tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71460896570669583172018-11-18T08:10:06.949-08:00Wild DefinedStories of an Ultra Runner and Adventure SeekerCandice Burtnoreply@blogger.comBlogger372125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-8794040234360543602018-09-24T10:41:00.001-07:002018-09-24T10:42:01.480-07:00Trail and Ultra Running Covers my Record Run Around Mt. Rainier<span data-offset-key="3hh9c-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: , , , &quot;.sfnstext-regular&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">From </span></span><span blockkey="3hh9c" class="_247o" contentstate="j { &quot;entityMap&quot;: [object Object], &quot;blockMap&quot;: OrderedMap { &quot;3hh9c&quot;: a { &quot;key&quot;: &quot;3hh9c&quot;, &quot;type&quot;: &quot;unstyled&quot;, &quot;text&quot;: &quot;From Trail and Ultra Running, a new perspective on my record run around Mt. 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font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;">, a new perspective on my record run around Mt. Rainier, my motivations for doing runs like these and my crazy-busy life! </span></span><br /><div><h2><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: , , , , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://trailandultrarunning.com/36-year-old-candice-burt-reclaims-solo-wonderland-trail-fkt-for-the-second-time/" target="_blank">36-Year-Old Candice Burt Reclaims Solo Wonderland Trail FKT for the Second Time</a></span></span></h2><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://trailandultrarunning.com/36-year-old-candice-burt-reclaims-solo-wonderland-trail-fkt-for-the-second-time/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1600" height="416" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BORx--2Ig3I/W6khRWVIZUI/AAAAAAAABIk/THPtC8hdRKUYibxLONJsfNNB-_TWHczNwCLcBGAs/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-09-24%2Bat%2B10.38.49%2BAM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><span data-offset-key="3hh9c-2-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: , , , &quot;.sfnstext-regular&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div>Candice Burthttps://plus.google.com/111543367908774573803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-17147832315781091512018-09-03T09:02:00.001-07:002018-09-03T09:02:39.394-07:00New Wonderland Trail Funnest & Fastest Known Time <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_JRlhPgiCx0/W4zbNcTnX_I/AAAAAAAABCs/TMDzm16iXpsk42yQ3HEZDhs5bkEqUSclACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_JRlhPgiCx0/W4zbNcTnX_I/AAAAAAAABCs/TMDzm16iXpsk42yQ3HEZDhs5bkEqUSclACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_6373.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I was crawling through the window that seperated the cab of my truck from the seating area when I hit the panic button on my keychain. WOO! WOO! WOO! My truck screamed through the parking lot, all eyes on me stuck partway through the almost-too-small window. If I angled just a bit, hip upward, I could squeeze through but this wasn't the first time I'd set off the truck alarm while climbing through the window, it was a tight fit.<br /><br />The trail work crew that was circled around their truck holding rakes and shovels was surely staring at me wondering why I was horizontal in the open window my head and chest poking through to the backseat and my feet and legs in the bed of the truck. This was me trying to be discreet as I'd slept in my truck the night before in the National Park and I wasn't sure if that might be frowned upon. I was running the Wonderland Trail today, hopefully faster than any other woman had ever run it while carrying all her own gear.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--pyruZOQpCc/W4zZ41sDP8I/AAAAAAAABCU/6rkR7oEAtDUTOTwtq84p2jZjIPgTn9_SwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6225.mp4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--pyruZOQpCc/W4zZ41sDP8I/AAAAAAAABCU/6rkR7oEAtDUTOTwtq84p2jZjIPgTn9_SwCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_6225.mp4" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night before my run prepping gear</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The Wonderland Trail is a tough and rugged trail that circumnavigates Mt. Rainier, Washington state's biggest volcano. The trail is somewhere between 93 and 95 miles total, depending on who you ask or what you read and gains 25,000 ft of vert as it climbs up the peaks and valleys that make this mountain one of Washington's most stunning and domineering landscapes.<br /><br />I knew I wanted to go back and run the Wonderland Trail after setting an unsupported FKT there in 2012 when I was just getting into ultra distance trail running. It was my first really big solo adventure and for some reason, perhaps because I'm competitive or perhaps because it gave me extra motivation, I chose to try to do the route as fast as possible. It's really a delicate process of pushing, but not pushing to hard, it's almost 100 miles after all. This time, I would again go for the unsupported record that had been set the year before by two women who ran the route together in August 2017 in 29 hr 12 minutes, about 1:59 better than my 2012 time. I was pretty confident after having run it in 31:11 that I could knock off a few hours if I didn't get lost like last time.<br /><br />Unsupported means that you have to carry all your own gear and food from start to finish. You can get water from natural sources along the way. I also consider unsupported to be solo however the official site does not. Running with another person means you won't be navigating alone, you may not carry 2 maps or 2 GPS and you will have a safety fall back plan and company to keep you awake and alert... to name a few of many reasons.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZ1bZhkhClw/W4zeEQW-XxI/AAAAAAAABDA/MlzeK8Nm3YMApTqLOx4GfShh9JctMpt0QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZ1bZhkhClw/W4zeEQW-XxI/AAAAAAAABDA/MlzeK8Nm3YMApTqLOx4GfShh9JctMpt0QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_6262.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see the trail?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The car alarm is still screaming out. My keys are in my hand and I locate the panic button,&nbsp;<span style="text-align: center;">pressing it hoping it will stop bringing attention to me climbing through my cab like the sketchy fucker I am. The noise stops abruptly and I grunt as I pull myself into the backseat, sitting for a moment wondering if the trail crew is still staring over at me. Opening the side door I'm cool as a mountain lake, as though nothing was amiss. I covered my messy hair with a pink Tahoe 200 trucker hat and calmly beelined for the trailhead bathroom with brush in hand. I don't take a single glance in the way of the trail workers. Cool as a fucking mountain lake.&nbsp;</span><br /><br />I was scared to run through the night, and I couldn't stop thinking about the dark. In 2012 while running the route solo I had to scare away a mountain lion, twice. It was one of the most frightening experiences of my life. There was no hiding in ignorance or denial this time around. I knew wild animals were on the mountain, in abundance. It is their mountain and I am a visitor. As I thought about the wild beasts standing at the back of my truck, tailgate down, I decided to pack an additional headlamp, making it three lights I was bringing. Probably overkill but fuck it. Two of the lights were headlamps and one was a waist light. I was going to light up the trail! It made me feel a little better but the fear still lingered. I knew if I wanted to overcome my fear I had to put myself in a place where the only way out, was the way through... in this case running through the trails at night until the sun came up again.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HKJrztVgKqU/W4zjRRtBD8I/AAAAAAAABFg/q2EZIguTRMU-muJtT1ZeS5aSdtdc2_MjQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HKJrztVgKqU/W4zjRRtBD8I/AAAAAAAABFg/q2EZIguTRMU-muJtT1ZeS5aSdtdc2_MjQCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_6369.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My pack at the end of my run, much emptier from the food being gone!</td></tr></tbody></table>I began my bid for the new record a bit after 10:20am on Wednesday, August 29 at the Box Canyon Trailhead. Before you judge my late-as-shit-time, know that no matter what I'm going to be running through the night so starting time was somewhat irrelevant. Plus, I didn't arrive at the Box Canyon parking area until after 1am. Starting rested was a good plan. The stress and adrenaline of running in such an intense environment had deeply fatigued me the last time, almost requiring a nap on day 2 so I wanted to start out as rested as possible. Despite the sleeping in, my visual hallucinations the next day were on point. But I digress.<br /><br />I hit the start button on all my GPS devices. I had 4 devices if anyone is counting: my Garmin Fenix watch, my handheld garmin 64st, my Inreach explorer for live tracking for any remote spectators (and to prove that I was doing/had done the route in the time I said I did it in), and my phone with the Gaia app. My pack weighed an impressive 19-22 pounds depending on how much water I had at any given time, still nothing compared to the backpackers I encountered! Scroll to the bottom of the page to see my (almost) full list of gear.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--PM9_UgElEY/W4zfKrKdLOI/AAAAAAAABDk/P8PAAOD7IpEw2TPXVH9cPkuuA1RWG0LSgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--PM9_UgElEY/W4zfKrKdLOI/AAAAAAAABDk/P8PAAOD7IpEw2TPXVH9cPkuuA1RWG0LSgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_6264.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alpine views early on day 1</td></tr></tbody></table>To me, a 20 pound pack wasn't too big of a deal. I had just come off a 120 mile week course marking for the Bigfoot 200 Endurance Run, one of the many events I organize year around as a full time Race Director (see my website here: <a href="http://www.destinationtrailrun.com/" target="_blank">Destination Trail</a>). We carry that kind of weight up to about 40 pounds every day for a week while doing 15-25 mile segments to mark a 200 mile course. I was used to the chaffing, the weight on my neck and shoulders, the pounding on my legs. I figured it was all good training for today, the day I'd go for the FKT. Although in all honestly I wasn't sure I was doing the route until just a few weeks before I did it. It was just a thought and the thought grew and grew until I could no longer ignore it.<br /><br />Right away, the views of Rainier were stunning. The trail climbed and climbed. In 10 miles I'd climbed 5,000 feet. In 23 miles it was 9,000 feet. I didn't notice the climbing too much, the pace felt easy and I was enjoying the quickly changing views. Overall, the entire route is well signed at intersections so early on I didn't need to navigate much. I paid careful attention through washes and over rivers as it can be easy to lose the trail when you're just going over rocks and scrambling up riversides. I'd forgotten how technical parts of the trail were. I took a lot of pictures (96) and a few videos (10). I wanted to document my journey and I was averaging 3.5 miles an hours it wasn't too hard to stop and take a few pics. In hindsight, I might have saved a bit of time by taking fewer pictures. Fun first, fast later.&nbsp;<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kW3B2NFtFZA/W4zeEWkhEKI/AAAAAAAABDI/itqwpnnQM8oksAfVKqHfDeMsFr361LO_gCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kW3B2NFtFZA/W4zeEWkhEKI/AAAAAAAABDI/itqwpnnQM8oksAfVKqHfDeMsFr361LO_gCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_6249.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first view of Rainier</td></tr></tbody></table>With all the little things I had to do to take care of myself, time was adding up and I kept slipping under the 3.5mph average I was hoping to keep: filtering water (I stop filtering to save time), getting food out of my pack, changing layers, taking photos. On top of that, I started to worry that I wasn't going to have enough calories. I had brought about 200 calories per hour for a 26 hour run. There wasn't much past that. Shit. I need to start conserving and I was only 10 hours into the run. There was no other option though, it was conserve or run out completely. I would make it work. It was all just part of the ever-changing challenge. Go with it. Go. GO GO!<br /><br />"I hope you're not going to fast to enjoy the views," A man with a camera remarked as I glided past him on a downhill. The thought crossed my mind that many people who don't run really don't understand how much fun it is to enjoy the scenery quickly. I get to see far more in a shorter period of time. It's not better and it's not worse than any other speed. It's just the way I enjoy the mountain. There's something incredibly powerful about moving like this through the environment. Just thinking about that feeling of ease and speed, it gives me goosebumps writing about it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oznza2esL18/W4ze0XvjIWI/AAAAAAAABDY/f5VwvBg6nHwA8kXiBIRy9QBxvj23L_J5QCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oznza2esL18/W4ze0XvjIWI/AAAAAAAABDY/f5VwvBg6nHwA8kXiBIRy9QBxvj23L_J5QCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_6284.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />As night began approaching, a new emotion emerged. Surprise. I was surprised that my fear wasn't growing. I strapped on two of my three lamps and proceeded down the trail. As the light faded away I descended farther and farther into river valley that thundered with the force of the melting glaciers coming off the mountain's impressive face. In this commanding environment I was both humbled and reverent. I was exactly <i>what</i> and <i>where</i> I should be.<br /><br />I crossed the river and about 1/2 mile later came to a closed trail sign. Dammit, I'd done it again, only the opposite direction. I remembered trying to go down this trail 6 years ago and losing a good 30 minutes. I turned around and proceeded to take the detour that took me around the washed out trail.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M7NeIG0d8ic/W4ziSWQUjvI/AAAAAAAABE4/QX4eaHZLR2wShrfmkTD7FFIwc0zQfjpRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6340%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M7NeIG0d8ic/W4ziSWQUjvI/AAAAAAAABE4/QX4eaHZLR2wShrfmkTD7FFIwc0zQfjpRwCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_6340%2B2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running into the night</td></tr></tbody></table>For the next 9 (or was it 10?) hours of darkness I counted down the hours and minutes until daylight knowing that my mind was my biggest challenger. In my mind, the night was the only thing holding back from finishing this route. For 9 straight hours I listened to episodes of Radiolab out of my phone's speaker in an attempt to scare off wildlife and to feel some human connection. Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich investigating a strange world as I navigated a strange, wild world pushing through brush, one step after another leading me up, up, up through brown forests of thick old growth trees. Noises reverberating across the valleys. The mountain slope angling above me as though there would never be any sky or any light ever again. Science and philosophy blending into a harsh, beautiful and magical world.<br /><br />The daylight met me at the top of one of the many climbs, I was eating berries hoping to get some extra calories. As I rounded pillars of rock, a beautiful and light (light!) meadow greeted me at the top, and the most perfect deer was just standing there. I gasped she was so perfect. Her coat was light brown and as shiny and thick as I'd ever seen. I couldn't believe she was real. Not afraid of me, just staring at me, curious. Her baby stepping out of the brush, just as perfect as she was. They walked off and the metaphor wasn't lost on me I, too, was born into day 2 of my journey. My fear was gone and there was a lightness that couldn't just be explained by my quickly diminishing calories. It was time to get this shit done.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rCvQ1amXFM/W4zgwma8SYI/AAAAAAAABEM/c4IC2D9ppJoUe9aH1gMGNTe1SeuzewP1ACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rCvQ1amXFM/W4zgwma8SYI/AAAAAAAABEM/c4IC2D9ppJoUe9aH1gMGNTe1SeuzewP1ACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_6309.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />If I was going to claim back the FKT on this route, I had to run the last 30 miles faster per mile than I'd run the first 65 miles. Shit. Shit. My brain was still calculating, an impressive task after so many hours of running and pushing. What were the chances I had it left in me to push so much harder? I shook my head as if that could dislodge the reality of the pace I needed to hold and refocused on the task at hand. Get that time. Go get the time or come back in 2 weeks and try again. The mere thought of having to come back so soon was enough to kick my legs in gear. My legs, the ones that felt like they were made out of glass that was slowly shattering. Focus.<br /><br />For hours I kept calculating the miles, the time, the mph I needed to move and the mph I was moving at. Could I do it? I kept having to stop: to eat, to put on a jacket, take off a jacket. Each pause was agonizing. I was so tired I was nodding off on the trail running. It must be the adrenaline from the stressful night I thought because I wasn't up for that long. Suck it up. I slapped my face, wake up! I popped a caffeine pill, ate some food, forced myself to drink some water. The water helped because basically since 10:20am the day before I had virtually no saliva and chewing was difficult. This always happens to me when I run. I can't barely chew or swallow. Each bite takes like 2 minutes until I eventually give up and choke it down. Probably didn't help that I brought peanut butter sandwiches with me. Six of them. I know, right? I set myself up for chewing failure.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9bEcYWO9iuY/W4zh_cRIyMI/AAAAAAAABEs/8K7T4OPpYvM46eWo_ujqgScGMAjspIo-wCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6319%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9bEcYWO9iuY/W4zh_cRIyMI/AAAAAAAABEs/8K7T4OPpYvM46eWo_ujqgScGMAjspIo-wCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_6319%2B2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water source, no filtering. I used LEKI poles the entire way and fell in love with them</td></tr></tbody></table>As I got closer to what was no less than Heaven to me... Box Canyon... 16 miles... 12.5 miles... an energy began growing in me like that melted glacial water. I was on the move! Now you might not think it sounds too impressive, but I was roaring down those trails 82 miles in... 26 hours in... clicking off 8, 9, 10 minute miles. I hadn't sat for more than a few minutes and certainly had not rested for all those 26 hours and now I felt like I was sprinting. From the outside, I probably appeared to be a dust devil that was exhausting her tornado like tendencies, slowing turning back into dirt. But I was just gaining speed, whirrling with a new found energy.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ht97ADntq-g/W4ze_uAG3lI/AAAAAAAABDg/r_gLRmpZgEw8UlY1EOqwfQ4YNGxeO1fPwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ht97ADntq-g/W4ze_uAG3lI/AAAAAAAABDg/r_gLRmpZgEw8UlY1EOqwfQ4YNGxeO1fPwCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_6272.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some technical running early on</td></tr></tbody></table>I was so excited 6 miles out (BOOOOX CAAAANYOOON I'm coming for youuuu!), I KNEW I was going to do this. In the last 30 miles I had just hoped to get a few minutes under the previous FKT of 29:12, but in these last 12 miles I'd gone from being a minute or two from getting the FKT to what was going to be about 30 minutes faster than the time, if I continued at this pace. I cannot explain how my brain was able to process this high level math so far into an ultra, but stay with me here, I wasn't going to just get the FKT. I was going sub 29 hours baby!!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHVTGogGL_Y/W4zjM0TXf5I/AAAAAAAABFY/Yhr6B8BPvdQ3Puq2ElYac19ESenpBe33gCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iHVTGogGL_Y/W4zjM0TXf5I/AAAAAAAABFY/Yhr6B8BPvdQ3Puq2ElYac19ESenpBe33gCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_6372.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />And there it is. That's how I set a Funnest and Fastest Known Time. I set a goal, slept in my truck, ran all day and all night and part of the next day until I got back to my truck. As I unlocked the door to my truck, my heaven, I even managed to not set off the panic button, and I collapsed into the front seat crying with joy. Trying to hide my emotions from the busy parking lot and wishing there was someone I could share the moment with, who might understand melting glaciers, strange worlds narrated by Jad Abumrad and perfectly groomed deer. Instead, I wiped my eyes, put on my sunglasses and changed my clothes as quickly as I could before my fingers turned white and my body shook with cold.<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, &quot;.SFNSText-Regular&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, &quot;.SFNSText-Regular&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The Official FKT website:</b> <a href="https://fastestknowntime.com/fkt/candice-burt-wonderland-trail-wa-2018-08-30">https://fastestknowntime.com/fkt/candice-burt-wonderland-trail-wa-2018-08-30</a></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uwm9MDPWevM/W4zi6uAZu3I/AAAAAAAABFI/nZmFvDwsOQgU_A3AaQIbpZ1D6lDYDgLgQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6349%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uwm9MDPWevM/W4zi6uAZu3I/AAAAAAAABFI/nZmFvDwsOQgU_A3AaQIbpZ1D6lDYDgLgQCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_6349%2B2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Garmin at the finish. Finish time: 3:05pm!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fh92vZ-q48Y/W4zjZ1B_AUI/AAAAAAAABFg/ZOMBhnUNwPEr9_E7g76tcH91MyrHqG8mACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_6347.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="739" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fh92vZ-q48Y/W4zjZ1B_AUI/AAAAAAAABFg/ZOMBhnUNwPEr9_E7g76tcH91MyrHqG8mACEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_6347.PNG" width="147" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also took a screenshot of the time of day when I got to Box Canyon.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><b><u>My gear:</u></b><br /><a href="https://ultimatedirection.com/2018-hardrocker-vest/" target="_blank">Ultimate Direction </a>hardrocker pack<br /><a href="https://www.leki.com/us/trail-running/poles/2757/micro-trail-pro/?c=727" target="_blank">LEKI poles</a>&nbsp;Micro Trail Pro<br /><a href="https://kogalla.com/" target="_blank">Kogalla Light</a><br />Black Diamond Headlamp<br />Petzl headlamp<br />4 extra AAA batteries<br />2 extra AA batteries<br />Battery pack<br />3 cords<br /><a href="https://ultimatedirection.com/womens-deluge-shell/" target="_blank">Ultimate Direction Rainjacket</a> with hood<br />North Face taped seams Rainjacket with hood<br />Gloves<br />Smartwool long sleeve shirt<br />Extra t-shirt<br /><a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/men/superior-35?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI26uf7bWe3QIVwrbACh2w1wgoEAAYASAAEgI9X_D_BwE" target="_blank">Altra Superior 3.5 Trail Shoes</a><br />Injini socks<br />Trail gaiters<br />Garmin 64st handheld GPS<br />Inreach Explorer Live tracking device<br />Phone<br />Fenix Garmin watch<br /><a href="https://aftershokz.com/collections/wireless/products/trekz-air" target="_blank">Aftershokz Trekz</a> headphones<br />iphone headphones<br />Katadyn Filter Bottle<br />2 - <a href="https://ultimatedirection.com/body-bottle-500/" target="_blank">Ultimate Direction Soft Flask </a>16 or 20oz bottles<br />6 Peanut Butter sandwiches<br />variety of <a href="https://muirenergy.com/" target="_blank">Muir gels</a><br />10 (ish) Larabars<br />Jellybeans<br />Honeystinger chews (2 packages)<br /><br /><br />Candice Burthttps://plus.google.com/111543367908774573803noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-27990677179732720162018-01-17T21:02:00.002-08:002018-01-17T21:02:38.191-08:002018 HURT 100: The Love and the Hate <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IvDqTfUtFPw/WmAnngrsNpI/AAAAAAAAAvA/JUQFtuVKk64U1oMernrL6KX9RFZ3y9zRwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IvDqTfUtFPw/WmAnngrsNpI/AAAAAAAAAvA/JUQFtuVKk64U1oMernrL6KX9RFZ3y9zRwCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_0193.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“What is my why?” I asked myself for the 100</span><sup>th</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">time. To be honest I've never been entirely clear why I run ultras, this moment was no exception. I was 30-some miles into one of the hardest 100 milers in the world and I felt like any moment I was going to lose my stomach and I couldn’t figure out why I was doing it. It's not like I didn't know what I was getting into, this was not my first time running HURT 100, it was my 5th. I was pretty sure I knew my "why" before the race – this year I was going to set a PR and enjoy time with other runners. By “enjoy” I really should say “suffer”. I knew there would be suffering, but it wasn’t until the race started and I began that cruel ascent up Hogs Back that I remembered how much suffering this race </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">really</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> required. How had I forgotten? What was wrong with me that I could let myself do this again, and again and AGAIN. It had been 2 years since I had run this race – I took last year off from the race to enjoy Maui with my children who had never been to Hawaii, ages 9 and 12, and in that time I had made the race into some sort of jaunt in paradise. Dammit. Time is a potent amnesia and my body was letting my brain know what an idiot I was to have accepted this challenge once again. So was my stomach. Please make it stop.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVzDxnZkkS0/WmAnn44m2HI/AAAAAAAAAvE/TXTln6hDorQJIHRqYVea2zbB2t2ZKrGMQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1213" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVzDxnZkkS0/WmAnn44m2HI/AAAAAAAAAvE/TXTln6hDorQJIHRqYVea2zbB2t2ZKrGMQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_0210.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my crew extraordinaire, the one and only Catra Corbett</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">2017 was marked by a strong desire on my part to return to racing (but that wouldn’t really happen until the end of the year/start of ’18) as well as a good effort on my part to cope as a very overwhelmed human being. I'm not complaining and I say this because I know some people will judge my words, I'm just explaining mostly for my own understanding. 2017 was a necessary 'just survive and get through it' kind of year to get to where I want to be. My business was taking off and growing quickly (we doubled our numbers in 1 year) and with it, my work load was growing massively as well. I organized my most complicated and challenging events thus far.&nbsp;</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8rA1GnzNMg/WmAnsU1htoI/AAAAAAAAAvg/kcoSsY8RvWYY1noQ4X4KITUa9lvEqDD9ACEwYBhgL/s1600/26239517_1593273627375263_990773155059602793_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8rA1GnzNMg/WmAnsU1htoI/AAAAAAAAAvg/kcoSsY8RvWYY1noQ4X4KITUa9lvEqDD9ACEwYBhgL/s400/26239517_1593273627375263_990773155059602793_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loop 1, mile 20</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This was the first year I’d be organizing three 200+ mile races in less than 3 months. As daunting as competing in all 3 may sound to you, the reader, organizing the events felt even more challenging to me, an experienced ultra runner and race director. Last year I organized two 200 mile races plus another 7 separate events for a total of 9 events. This year I had 10 events, including one extra 200 mile race that was really 238 miles, the Moab 240, and with it many more permits and a very increased work load and </span>responsibilities<span style="font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;that would’ve broken many people. It almost broke me honestly, but I chose it and dammit I wanted to be successful!&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My point in explaining this is to paint a story for the reader as to where my mind and body was July through early November. I was on site for organizing, marking and directing my 200 mile races from early July through October, a total of almost 4 months. From mid September until October, in just 2 weeks, I prepped for the Moab 240 (orders, final permits, employees, etc) flew to WA to see my children, had surgery for a hernia, and gave up alcohol for good. To say that I filled every moment with something significant is an understatement. September was one of the worst months of my life, with some of my lowest of lows and yet, my race directing business was taking off. It was a month of change, and although it was painful in many ways, it was a catalyst for all the good things that 2018 will bring. <o:p></o:p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4AYcPdfLx9U/WmAnoLt8xYI/AAAAAAAAAvY/1dL_AxJbAu4TIgkCrNdPAkGKlxbQ95AswCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4AYcPdfLx9U/WmAnoLt8xYI/AAAAAAAAAvY/1dL_AxJbAu4TIgkCrNdPAkGKlxbQ95AswCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_0242.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hogs Back, the first climb. You must do this climb 5x for a finish.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">All three 200 mile races went incredibly well, however as a business we had some growing pains after my new truck’s engine died costing the business over $20,000, the business’ new RV broke down, and some internal strife (read: issues with our race crew including missing cash from merchandise and the need to let go of some people due to their actions being out of line with our mission). Through it all I began to fine tune some aspects of my race organizing team and through it all a deeper understanding of the kind of people I need to have on hand in order to do my job the best I can and continue to organize the biggest an best 200 mile races in the USA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">By the time November rolled around, I was ready to train for the HURT 100, my 5<sup>th</sup> time racing the event. Heck, I was ready to just run in general after all the work commitments of the past summer and fall. Work and life had other plans for me however. In November/December I put in an offer on a house in Washington State, opened the Tahoe 200 registration (we got over 250 people in 2 months), sold two trucks and finally got a new truck to replace my dead truck and closed on that house in Washington. Life stayed overwhelmingly busy. I made two trips to Washington State and got a new puppy and trained my ass off while dealing with a chronic hamstring injury. I raced the Ray Miller 50k getting a break through 3<sup>rd</sup> place after years of not racing anything less than 100 milers. By breakthrough, I meant specifically mentally for me. It was uplifting to see that I still had a little speed, but I worried that I had not raced longer than a 50k in prep for the HURT 100, a race that I knew would test every inch of my body and mind. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0b_n9vurmJs/WmAnrOoXvPI/AAAAAAAAAvg/uNwArM-LCPsHxR49HyzJAvHlTvWzle2hgCEwYBhgL/s1600/26230220_1593273570708602_9099779049050557195_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0b_n9vurmJs/WmAnrOoXvPI/AAAAAAAAAvg/uNwArM-LCPsHxR49HyzJAvHlTvWzle2hgCEwYBhgL/s400/26230220_1593273570708602_9099779049050557195_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mile 40, still smiling, but not feeling well</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">In December I trained with a bit more gusto running most days through cold, snow, and injuries including the aforementioned hamstring pain and a separated AC joint in my shoulder. Despite the injuries, I felt stronger than I’d felt in years. Yes, years. Just last summer I DNS’d the TRT100 when my new coach David Roche explained that it would set me back if I did – he was right to say so. Last summer I couldn’t even run up a short hill. My body was drained and I’d been pulled from the Desert Rats 150 mile stage race for medical reasons after a string of issues that culminated in extreme abdominal pain and a massive drop in my blood pressure (I was measured as 60/? As the doctors couldn’t even get a read on the bottom number). It was recommended that I immediately go to the hospital, I refused, survived, and ultimately was pulled from the race for my own safety. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">As I write all this I realize that as excited as I was to return to racing, I may have returned too soon. I should’ve built a stronger base including more short distance ultras in preparation for such a tough 100 mile race. I found myself getting quite nervous for the HURT 100 as it approached. I was excited to have my good friend Catra Corbett joining me as crew and pacer and I felt confident that I was well trained and ready, yet I knew that it was ONE HUNDRED FREAKING MILES. Anything could happen and I hadn’t trained more than 31 miles in one day in prep. I really felt that I should’ve done a 50 miler, but I was carefully managing my hamstrong pain. I had done a 3 day but it ended up being shorter than planned due to my hamstring and 6” fresh snow. My three day block ended up being 26 miles-10 miles- 20 miles 3 weeks before the event. I hoped it would be enough. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PlzfBhQkIhg/WmAnohj1hKI/AAAAAAAAAvU/0h-At6B35a8VfBnhw1dPcLBYtlUsF3-bQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PlzfBhQkIhg/WmAnohj1hKI/AAAAAAAAAvU/0h-At6B35a8VfBnhw1dPcLBYtlUsF3-bQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_0259.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beatrice trying to convince me she will fit with all my other race gear for my trip to Hawaii</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Race week: my runs were still feeling good, great actually, but my nerves persisted. I had high expectations for myself, after all this was my 5<sup>th</sup> year and I’d finished the race 3 times (twice in 2<sup>nd</sup>place, once in 3<sup>rd</sup> place and one DNF) and I thought I could get a PR. My fastest time was 27:58 good enough to just squeeze into the women’s top 10 fastest times ever. I felt like I had not really reached my potential at this race and I hoped this was the year I could do that. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I didn’t do it. Here’s how it went down. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JlPBnp8ra_o/WmAnrJ5R_3I/AAAAAAAAAvQ/EeF7kHybvAM_6tytpcU65LcozacQiIrWgCEwYBhgL/s1600/26231118_10216019945197493_787515069936825458_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JlPBnp8ra_o/WmAnrJ5R_3I/AAAAAAAAAvQ/EeF7kHybvAM_6tytpcU65LcozacQiIrWgCEwYBhgL/s400/26231118_10216019945197493_787515069936825458_n.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's worth noting that on loop 1 we all thought there was a missile coming to Hawaii to possibly kill us all. Puts things in perspective. This is a screen shot from Catra's phone when they finally let everyone know that we were not in fact being bombed.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Miles 0-20 (loop 1)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Felt stronger than I’ve ever felt on Loop 1 although I came in slower than my PR year. I ran it in 4:28 this year, my fastest being 4:17 and despite the relatively fast pace, I was still running 3-6</span><sup>th</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> place woman. There were about 7 of us that were relatively close on that loop and loop 2. Looking back, I believe this was actually the most competitive year I’ve run the race. I felt good on this loop and 4:28 was not too hard for me, although the 4:28 felt a bit faster than it was. I was hoping to do a 4:15 on that loop, but keeping it easy and light was my plan so 4:28 it was. Running into paradise was waaaay slipperier than I remembered it from other years, however the rest of the course seemed drier, save for the creek crossings which were more intense and my feet stayed wet the entire way. Squish, squash, squish, squash.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PIAiJYpIXOg/WmAnohEn0YI/AAAAAAAAAvY/VA2wKritw9M3_lB27tETB4T_YGWp0yxkACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PIAiJYpIXOg/WmAnohEn0YI/AAAAAAAAAvY/VA2wKritw9M3_lB27tETB4T_YGWp0yxkACEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_0262.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loop 1. Photo courtesy HURT 100</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Miles 20-40 (loop 2)</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">This loop makes it or breaks it for most runners. If loop 2 is too difficult, it’s incredibly difficult physically and mentally to continue for 60 more miles on such difficult terrain. Basically this is the loop that went bad for me. Right away I got very nauseous. I panicked – I was fearful of a repeat of the abdominal pain that almost sent me to the hospital last summer and I knew that this pain would take away all my leg power if it continued. I thought fast and realized I’d had a lot of plain water at the Nature Center at mile 20 and I might need more electrolytes so I added Liquid IV powder to my hand bottle in a strong concentration. It worked within minutes and by the time I was at the top of the climb 3 miles into the loop I felt good again. I had two entire coconuts worth of coconut water at the road crossing (after banging my knee incredibly hard on the medal fence) and proceeded to Paradise Aid mile 27. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Leaving Paradise, a very gradual uphill began to feel tougher than it should. I wanted to walk but I knew I should be running. My level of effort to keep a similar pace to loop 1 was much harder than I hoped and I knew lack of calories and subpar hydration was taking a toll, as well as possibly my lack of training over 50k and a mind that wasn’t strong enough. I began to have doubts about my abilities creeping into my head. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stay positive</i> I told myself. I knew everyone would be slowing down and I anticipated this loop would be 30-60 minutes slower than loop 1, a much bigger difference than was ideal. Dammit. General nausea was hitting me again on the way to Nuunuu Aid (mile 33) but I keep trucking along, I still had a long way to go. As I descended to Nuunuu I counted the women in front of me: 6. Wow, I was pretty far back I thought. Looking back, I realize I was being way too hard on myself, judging myself on previous years but this year was its own year and who knew what would happen? It was still early, yet I couldn’t see that at the time. I was beginning to deflate. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mNwZ9C5gYHc/WmAnm_3K3yI/AAAAAAAAAvc/3Qdl17ar5-0u3VLD_8URGLnjzuQZcGaUwCEwYBhgL/s1600/26230282_10159816127245503_658519796530353419_n.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mNwZ9C5gYHc/WmAnm_3K3yI/AAAAAAAAAvc/3Qdl17ar5-0u3VLD_8URGLnjzuQZcGaUwCEwYBhgL/s320/26230282_10159816127245503_658519796530353419_n.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming into Paradise Aid Station, mile 27. Sweating is just part of this race. A lot of sweating.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Nausea continued to get worse after Nuunuu and I struggled to keep pace. I had to sit down as I felt shaky and sick. I tried to get calories in, but I didn’t want to eat. Thoughts of dropping were comforting and I began to really consider ending the suffering I was feeling. By the time I reached mile 40 (5:30hr for 2<sup>nd</sup> loop and 10 hr total) I had decided I was done I just wasn’t sure how to tell Catra. I could not imagine continuing 60 more miles with the extreme nausea I was feeling. Catra convinced me to go to the next aid at mile 47 and I agreed because I knew I owed it to her to try. The climb out of the Nature Center was incredibly difficult as I had to sit many times to calm my nausea. I hate you Hogs Back! I felt so sick, and on top of that I felt sorry for myself. I wasn’t sure I could make it to the next aid. People kept passing me. Sit down, walk, sit down, hold stomach. Just before the turn off to the Nature Center, I texted Catra. I knew I needed to go back. I didn’t feel good enough to continue. And that was it. All my hopes and dreams of my race, of another finish that year were done. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>&nbsp;<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_EBivuF4MRk/WmAnr3-4TnI/AAAAAAAAAvc/P4_lS7GBaSMXXJck3I0Z7sQyTdm5XJuxgCEwYBhgL/s1600/26231283_1593273567375269_2587732093832376045_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_EBivuF4MRk/WmAnr3-4TnI/AAAAAAAAAvc/P4_lS7GBaSMXXJck3I0Z7sQyTdm5XJuxgCEwYBhgL/s320/26231283_1593273567375269_2587732093832376045_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catra wiping me down at Nature Center, mile 20.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">You can be disappointed without being hard on yourself. That’s how I was. People kept telling me not to feel bad, not to be hard on myself and it was confusing. Why can’t I be disappointed? I wasn’t beating myself up, I was bummed out that it ended the way it did, but I did what I had to do for myself. I did the best I could in each moment. I did not have regrets; I was just disappointed. I didn’t want anyone to tell me how to feel, I just wanted to be home with my loved ones and a pair of skis. I was ready to take a break from everything HURT 100. Is that so bad? I’m a complicated human. I dream big, work extremely hard, feel fear, disappointment, joy, and love. I also felt that I did not reach my full potential which is always unacceptable to me. I’m not sure how to reach my full potential in races, but I’ll just keep trying. I guess that means that I will probably be back, despite the many (negative) feelings I had about the course while running it and afterward. Love and hate are really just ends of one spectrum, intimately connected.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJv0YGhztac/WmAnownfL0I/AAAAAAAAAvI/Hs2J8Qw01LwPDAX0W_dxN7PuNLgmmQajQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJv0YGhztac/WmAnownfL0I/AAAAAAAAAvI/Hs2J8Qw01LwPDAX0W_dxN7PuNLgmmQajQCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_0263.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still smiling, promise!</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> <o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch> 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cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GGNAX9XRRVM/WmAnpU7_SsI/AAAAAAAAAvY/siMPhyqdLgszH2V4zkeTEA6q5Xz7XBr1QCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GGNAX9XRRVM/WmAnpU7_SsI/AAAAAAAAAvY/siMPhyqdLgszH2V4zkeTEA6q5Xz7XBr1QCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_0283.JPG" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couldn't be more excited to go home to my pups and kids</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Candice Burthttps://plus.google.com/111543367908774573803noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-79730147618925255412017-04-22T13:11:00.002-07:002017-04-22T13:41:00.787-07:00Exploring Fear: Mitigating the Dangers of an Adventurous Life<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="27rrq" data-offset-key="3p7p3-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #4b4f56; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3p7p3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_ndunKTRVs/WPu5TBpoupI/AAAAAAAAARk/HlnAlHbOnysMnpBTn8FRJs4r4sQgRfFHgCLcB/s1600/skiing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L_ndunKTRVs/WPu5TBpoupI/AAAAAAAAARk/HlnAlHbOnysMnpBTn8FRJs4r4sQgRfFHgCLcB/s640/skiing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skiing Flagpole Peak, photo by Ray Sena</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px;">I have a complicated relationship with fear. I'd say that I am probably more adventurous than most people, however fear is always present in some form or another in both my professional and personal life. When I'm doing what I really love it's always present. I cannot separate fear from the joy I feel when I am most free exploring the world. It's just a part of the process. When I fastpacked the <a href="http://www.bigfoot200.com/">Bigfoot 200</a> course completely alone so that I could create a point to point 200 mile race in the Cascade Mountains, it was both exhilarating and terrifying. That course is incredibly remote and there was no calling for help if I needed it. </span><span data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">Many of the trails I was scouting I wasn't even sure existed, I'd come up with a route on a mapping program ahead of time and there was a chance it might not work out. Some of the trails were very faint and there were times I wasn't sure I was where I thought I was or that the trails would continue. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">I had a handheld GPS and maps to keep me on track, however that wouldn't help me much if the trails I planned to explore didn't actually exist. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">Sleeping alone at night in the middle of the wilderness in a bivy and going through torrential downpours was probably the scariest part. The Cascade Mountains are beautiful but can be an unforgiving and dangerous. Would I be able to stay warm enough if my rain jacket didn't work? What if my sleeping bag got wet inside of my pack? What if an animal attacked me while I was running/hiking/sleeping? </span></div></div><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read about my fastpacking Bigfoot 200:</span></span><br /><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3od5e-0-0" style="color: #4b4f56; direction: ltr; letter-spacing: -0.24px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.wilddefined.com/2014/10/fastpacking-new-washingtonoregon-200.html">Part 1</a> </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3od5e-0-0" style="color: #4b4f56; direction: ltr; letter-spacing: -0.24px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.wilddefined.com/2014/10/fastpacking-bigfoot-200-part-2.html">Part 2</a></span></span><br /><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px;"><a href="http://www.wilddefined.com/2014/07/notes-from-crazy-runner-fastpacking.html" style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.24px;">Tahoe 200 course scouting here</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WGjRYAr4FJs/WPu3INi_swI/AAAAAAAAARI/seEh71ufV3YDGJFwypN47CBup-mEyXFvQCLcB/s1600/fastpacking%2Bbf%2B200%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WGjRYAr4FJs/WPu3INi_swI/AAAAAAAAARI/seEh71ufV3YDGJFwypN47CBup-mEyXFvQCLcB/s320/fastpacking%2Bbf%2B200%2B4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such amazing beauty while fastpacking the BF200 course&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kkqyt41KR7M/WPu3FnXvTPI/AAAAAAAAARA/VcIlxf6TSSs3XhtMrfp6nnrW92My7qB3gCLcB/s1600/fastpacking%2Bbf200%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kkqyt41KR7M/WPu3FnXvTPI/AAAAAAAAARA/VcIlxf6TSSs3XhtMrfp6nnrW92My7qB3gCLcB/s320/fastpacking%2Bbf200%2B2.JPG" width="240" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px;">There are countless times I've balanced my fears with my adventures. I don't think you can have a real adventure without fear and the </span></span><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px;">possibility</span></span><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px;"> of failure or injury or worse. Fear can be a motivator and can save your life. Most the time I think fear is an early warning sign that you're entering into one of the following:</span></span><br /><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3od5e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3od5e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1. You're doing something completely new</b> and your fear is motivated by the unknown. Maybe you are learning a new sport or trade. It may be a vague uneasiness that stays with you, but usually it's a mild form of fear. This kind of fear is usually good to explore with careful planning and assessment. </span></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3od5e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3od5e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>2. You're unaware of your physical limitations</b> and perhaps in an extreme </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">environment</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and your fear arises out of the possibility that you will deprive your physical self to the point of injury or death, for example: dehydration, heat problems, hypothermia, hunger. These situations require careful assessment and planning. Before putting yourself in an extreme environment for a prolonged time you should take baby steps. Take shorter outings in the environment. Test your body and equipment. You can quickly be in real danger if you do not prepare and plan ahead. </span></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3od5e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3od5e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>3. You're pushing past your psychological and/or physical comfort zone</b> and this causes fear of the unknown. For example, perhaps you're doing your longest run ever or a new race distance or you're fastpacking alone. Most the time, pushing past these comfort zones is highly beneficial. Always be prepared and assess the situation. </span></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3od5e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ycw_VkE5yBs/WPu6NGHoSEI/AAAAAAAAARs/kERj3ZuT_OY-zDhKPVjwrJTsSxVW8fleQCLcB/s1600/17353609_10213023001915784_7972288852160752595_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ycw_VkE5yBs/WPu6NGHoSEI/AAAAAAAAARs/kERj3ZuT_OY-zDhKPVjwrJTsSxVW8fleQCLcB/s320/17353609_10213023001915784_7972288852160752595_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assessing the most fun (and safe) ski route down the peak. Photo by Tony Guan</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3od5e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>4. You are alone</b> and your fear arises from not having someone to rely on if something bad was to happen. You could feel these emotions in a regular daily run or during a longer unsupported route. Making sure that someone knows where you are and what time you expect to return is key. For longer routes carry an emergency beacon like a DeLorme or SPOT. Carry a cell phone or a satellite phone. Preparation and communication can save your life. </span></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3od5e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3od5e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>5. You're in actual immediate physical danger</b>. You may be skiing down a mountain during high avalanche danger and cause an avalanche. You may be running and see a mountain lion. You may get injured and not be sure if you will be able to get back to your car/home. You may get caught in a storm or get lost. This kind of fear should be taken seriously and your intuition should be trusted. Careful planning, knowing what to do when injured or when making contact with wild animals and having emergency gear and warm clothes can help in many cases. Always let someone know your adventure plans and when you expect to return. Carry an emergency beacon like a DeLorme or SPOT. Have a cell phone or Satellite phone. When backcountry skiing have all your avalanche safety gear and even a avalanche balloon bag - this applies to any sport where safety gear can save your life. </span></span></span></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="27rrq" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="background-color: white;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="color: #4b4f56; direction: ltr; letter-spacing: -0.24px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think that it's important to control your fears <i>and</i> to listen to them since they can point you both toward some of the greatest achievements in your life or alternately, toward injury or death. Finding that fine line between adventure and death is key. You wouldn't want to live a life of mediocrity, but you also want to live. You want to have as much time exploring and adventuring AND with your family and loved ones as possible. Life is a balance. We cannot live allowing our fears to control us, but we can use them to better assess the safety of our adventures and to achieve amazing feats. </span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1GLdF3eyX0M/WPu38udBPtI/AAAAAAAAARU/mcrs3w9aW4QzXsuoaqefZ4uMwRf34eYjwCLcB/s1600/GPS%2Bdevice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1GLdF3eyX0M/WPu38udBPtI/AAAAAAAAARU/mcrs3w9aW4QzXsuoaqefZ4uMwRf34eYjwCLcB/s320/GPS%2Bdevice.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love my GPS device!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="color: #4b4f56; direction: ltr; letter-spacing: -0.24px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Here are some ways that I like to use to mitigate the dangers of my adventures:</b></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="color: #4b4f56; direction: ltr; letter-spacing: -0.24px; position: relative; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1. Carry a Emergency Beacon:</b> Most popular versions are <a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/561269/pn/010-01735-10?gclid=CNXk4L7quNMCFQwVgQodhf8CVQ">Delorme InReach</a> or <a href="http://www.findmespot.com/en/">SPOT</a> devices. The InReach has tracking, maps, and you can text through your </span></span><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">satellite</span></span><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> subscription. Both devices have a button you can press in case you require immediate rescue. It will allow Search and Rescue to find you. Only for use in the most extreme and dangerous circumstances but a nice fall back plan if you do need rescue. </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>2. Have a GPS device AND maps/compass: </b>Most important thing here is that you know how to use all your navigational gear. Practice, practice, practice! I am a huge advocate of handheld GPS devices. They have allowed me to navigate complicated routes successfully. I have the <a href="https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/140024">Garmin 64st</a>, now a bit outdated so if you plan to get one, look for a more modern equivalent. </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>3. Carry plenty of warm clothing and rain gear:</b> This is so important in so many adventures. When I go fastpacking I always have a <b>truly waterproof jacket </b>(testing it ahead of time can save your life), down jacket, tights/pants, extra socks, gloves, and a hat. No one plans to get injured on the trail, but if you do you will be ready to hunker down and wait for help. Keep ALL your extra clothing in a waterproof bag. If carrying a sleeping bag also keep that in a waterproof bag. </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>4. Carry more water and food than you think you need.</b> Assess your route for water especially. Make sure you have more than enough water for each section. Bring a water purification device. I like the <a href="https://www.steripen.com/">Steripen</a> and the <a href="https://sawyer.com/products/sawyer-mini-filter/">Sawyer mini filter</a>. Sometimes I carry both. </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>5. Communicate with someone your plans.</b> Let someone know where you are going, when you plan to be back and how to communicate with you while you are on the trail. </span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>6. Carry the essentials for safety.</b> This really varies depending on what and where you are going. For fastpacking trips of 2+ days I carry:</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dgiau-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;"><ul><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">rain jacket</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">pants</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">hat &amp; gloves</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">sleeping bag</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">bivy or small tent</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">lighter/waterproof matches</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">knife</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">light &amp; batteries</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">GPS device and maps and compass- must know how to use or they are useless!</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">SPOT or Delorme Emergency beacons</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">water purification method</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">extra food and water</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">waterproof bags for clothing and sleeping bag</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">sports tape &amp; duct tape</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">anti chaffing cream</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">sunscreen (if it's going to be sunny)</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">small stove (ok so I never bring one, but if you're hiking mostly or your pack is big enough go for it)</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">personal medications. I like to have aspirin, ibuprofen and bendryl just in case</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">hat: I prefer a trucker hat, keeps you cool in the sun and warm in the cold</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">and of course coffee :) Starbucks Via or instant coffee is good if you don't have a stove. I've been known to mix Starbucks Via with cold water in a Ultimate Direction water bottle</span></span></li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dxBhgNs_d-o/WPu38iG2SZI/AAAAAAAAARY/oWTKna66qy0s6v3O99Xu3JOdbvI21kGkQCEw/s1600/duct%2Btape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dxBhgNs_d-o/WPu38iG2SZI/AAAAAAAAARY/oWTKna66qy0s6v3O99Xu3JOdbvI21kGkQCEw/s320/duct%2Btape.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Put duct tape on your water bottle. I used it when I sprained my ankle badly on day 1 of the tahoe 200 scouting. Life saver.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px;">Now go out and explore your fear! </span></span></span><br /><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun" style="font-family: times;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Instagram</a></span></div><div class="p2" style="font-family: times;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice">Facebook Page</a></span></span></div><div><div class="p2" style="font-family: times;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail">YouTube Channel</a></span></span></div><div class="p2" style="font-family: times;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice">Twitter</a></span></span></div></div></div><div><span style="color: #4b4f56;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div>Candice Burthttps://plus.google.com/111543367908774573803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-57362811674378937632016-11-01T14:33:00.000-07:002016-11-01T15:07:02.300-07:00The Trap of Being Busy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5_EPD-gslqY/WBkJm0_9nvI/AAAAAAAAKI0/Oth0X4f-FX8Bwti4sCMxjBwujwW29UMWACLcB/s1600/14612512_10211345859908282_2928265689262191635_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5_EPD-gslqY/WBkJm0_9nvI/AAAAAAAAKI0/Oth0X4f-FX8Bwti4sCMxjBwujwW29UMWACLcB/s400/14612512_10211345859908282_2928265689262191635_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Howie Stern at the Bigfoot 120mi/100k in October</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I hate to admit it but I have fallen into that trap of being too busy this year and one of my favorite things, writing, has fallen by the wayside. So I wanted to write a few updates here and promise to myself to find more time to write about running and running culture in the coming months. I have some articles I have been pondering in my head and I am excited to share them with you. For now, Here's some updates from the year:<br /><br /><ul><li>I successfully directed 15 races this year, just 2 more to go, with three of those being over 100mi (two 200 milers and one 120mile/100k).&nbsp;</li><li>I've created a brand new 200 this fall that will (hopefully) be permitted for next year (2017), the Moab 200 Endurance Run. It will be organized in memory of Stephen Jones who came up with much of the route. The race will be in a similar format to my other 200s: non-repetitive course, just one single loop from Moab south through the red rock canyons to the Abajo Mountains and north through the La Sal Mountains to finish in Moab, UT. To understate how much work this is to organize, I'll just say I have in fact been busy!</li><li>I raced two 100 mile races, HURT 100 in January (2nd place finish) and Tahoe Rim Trail 100 in July (slowest finish ever in a 100, but I finished!).&nbsp;</li><li>I moved to Lake Tahoe (my dream for a while) in February for a year and have been traveling almost constantly to organize events. &nbsp;I estimate I've only been home 40% of the year. Each 200 I organize takes about 1 month on site to organize. They are a huge, massive time, energy, and monetary investment.&nbsp;</li><li>I hired a videographer for my 200s this year, Derrick Lytle, and he has made a few promos for the Bigfoot 200 and Tahoe 200 and is working on a documentary that follows three runners as they tackle the 200s. Can't wait to see what he comes up with! Check out the promos below the post so learn a bit more about the races.</li><li>I began cross country and back country skiing in March and I'm totally hooked! Now I travel with my skis, just in case I find some snow.&nbsp;</li><li>My race organizing business grew by about 10-20% overall, but doubled for the 200s. Pretty excited about that but looking forward to a simpler time with fewer responsibilities so I can play more.</li><li>This was the year I added another best friend to my life, Hank the unusual chihuahua. Hank is such a blessing... as are all best friends. He fills an emotional void that only a special friend can fill. I still have the lovely River (Husky / German Shepard mix) and she is doing great. Unfortunately I have not been able to travel with her on some trips, but she gets to enjoy staying in Tahoe with her pals Marvin and Garrett while I am gone. Hoping to upgrade vehicles so I can fit River in my vehicle comfortably in the coming year.</li><li>Speaking of which, I plan to get a Sprinter Van for next year so I can travel with a bit more gear and space. My Honda Element (Hotelement) is just a bit small for 2 dogs, my gear, and myself. Plus if I'm traveling 60% of the year I might as well get a bigger rig.&nbsp;</li></ul><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oVminOXJzTg/WBkJmYU0p2I/AAAAAAAAKIw/_F4lV7V-8TALT16I2dHD03dSqVe-pFGzwCLcB/s1600/14068258_10210917666443713_2895318551993422816_n%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oVminOXJzTg/WBkJmYU0p2I/AAAAAAAAKIw/_F4lV7V-8TALT16I2dHD03dSqVe-pFGzwCLcB/s320/14068258_10210917666443713_2895318551993422816_n%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Road trippin'</td></tr></tbody></table>That's it for now... stay tuned for some articles in the coming weeks and months as I plan to invest more time in my writing and I hope you enjoy it! For now, here's a few ways to follow my adventures:<br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun" style="font-family: times;">Instagram</a></span></div><div class="p2" style="font-family: times;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Facebook Page</span></a></span></div><div><div class="p2" style="font-family: times;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail">YouTube Channel</a></span></span></div><div class="p2" style="font-family: times;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice">Twitter</a></span></span></div><div class="p2" style="font-family: times;"><br /></div></div>Bigfoot 200 Endurance Run <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cCkxtR226pI" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Tahoe 200 Endurance Run <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5oIoBoGetSQ" width="560"></iframe>Candicenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-58632247539501023182016-07-02T22:48:00.001-07:002016-07-02T23:50:43.831-07:00Limitus and Other Ridiculous Concepts plus Why Breathing is Sort of Important<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FauvWcMVD-0/V3isISpiLLI/AAAAAAAAJ7c/ArVjeAoUiY82cwr3Y30cFRtoADZPuWM9ACKgB/s1600/DSC_2099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FauvWcMVD-0/V3isISpiLLI/AAAAAAAAJ7c/ArVjeAoUiY82cwr3Y30cFRtoADZPuWM9ACKgB/s320/DSC_2099.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Organizing the inaugural Bigfoot 200 in 2015. You don't know stress until you <br />babysit a hundred f@cking runners for 4 days. Photo by Howie Stern</td></tr></tbody></table>There's a reason they call my foot condition "Hallus Limitus." I'd like to start out by pointing out that the word "condition" has the word "con" in it. Just sayin. I guess I should back up. I've been pining for a real doctor diagnosis on my foot for at least 2.5 years. Before folks were required to have health insurance, lest they be fined into the system, I didn't have insurance. I honestly didn't think I could afford it at that time nor did I think I needed it, but I had this nagging and increasingly intense pain in my right foot, just under the big toe that was very sharp, deep, and gnawing. The pain felt as though someone was drilling into the very middle of the joint. The sharp and gnawing pain would last a few seconds to half a minute in some very severe cases (when I was deep into running a 200 miler last summer). After a DNF at that 200 miler (mile 175-ish) my foot was excruciating, which is saying something because I tend to ignore and downplay most pain. My foot was twice its normal size, throbbing, and it was hard to walk on. So naturally I thought I had a stress fracture or that I was going to drop dead. One or the other.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VFsa62x8ehg/V3ir6Z28hDI/AAAAAAAAJ7I/Z6_NdPDT2GMOVDArcYY4RlLaMXaYlBzmACLcB/s1600/IMG_5403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VFsa62x8ehg/V3ir6Z28hDI/AAAAAAAAJ7I/Z6_NdPDT2GMOVDArcYY4RlLaMXaYlBzmACLcB/s320/IMG_5403.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relaxing in Tahoe this summer</td></tr></tbody></table>One x-ray and a few doc appointments later, I was told there was no stress fracture and no arthritis. So what the hell was going on in that toe? I recovered, moved on... I thought. Yet whenever my mileage went over 70 mpw (miles per week) the pain would become increasingly intense, both during rest and running. Fast forward to two weeks ago, I now have health insurance, a foot doctor and a real live appointment with the doc. Another x-ray and lots of prodding later, I was told "Hallux Limitus." Ok, so what exactly is that? Hallux stands for big toe, and Limitus - the increasing lack of motion in the big toe:<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;lucida grande&quot; , &quot;lucida&quot; , &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hallux rigidus is considered by many podiatrists to be the end stage of hallux limitus, or a state in which your ability to create motion in your big toe is lost or severely restricted. Hallux rigidus may lead to long-term damage of your first MTP joint, and it usually involves erosion of your joint cartilage and the development of osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease. Hallux rigidus is a condition characterized by near-ankylosis, or a state in which your big toe becomes stiff and immobile due to the partial fusion of your involved bones. ---</span></i></span><span style="font-family: &quot;lucida grande&quot; , &quot;lucida&quot; , &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>https://nwfootankle.com/</i></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;lucida grande&quot; , &quot;lucida&quot; , &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>My doctor measured my toe and metatarsal bone lengths as well as the cartilage and determined that due to genetic foot bone lengths and my ultra running, this condition has developed to the point that its progression is guaranteed to continue. Now that I am aware that the issue is nothing I can just rest and recover from, I am ready to let it go. I guess I'm saying that I will do what I can to slow the progression of the issue but the prognosis is considered self-limiting and there doesn't appear to be a "cure." So I'll just integrate the experience, the pain into my life, as we do with so many painful things in life. I refuse to allow anything to "limitus" me, let alone my toe. I'd rather become friends with it. Friends in pain, and sometimes not in pain.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0kIVrmWsQXM/V3ir8KmHtUI/AAAAAAAAJ7Q/9tHroRm3d4MDWAwMuu2zbdfayIl6AARMACKgB/s1600/IMG_6142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0kIVrmWsQXM/V3ir8KmHtUI/AAAAAAAAJ7Q/9tHroRm3d4MDWAwMuu2zbdfayIl6AARMACKgB/s320/IMG_6142.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biking is cool too. I've recently gotten deep into Mountain Biking. LOVE IT! Working on getting air lately.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>Did I tell you I've been unable to breathe properly as well? Might as well throw that bombshell in too. I have always struggled with bronchitis type conditions, severe pneumonia as a child where I was coughing blood, and more recently, a diagnosis of exercise induced asthma. Rather than go in depth into the process I struggled through to determine this recently, I'd rather talk about how I feel that racing hard 100s and other ultra runs has severely stressed my lungs. I think we all are predisposed to different issues. We tend to hold stress somewhere, for me it has been in my lungs. In Chinese medicine, the lungs represent grief. I think that this combination of grief from recent life experiences and stress from extreme long distance running has damaged my body's ability to deal with lung based stress, hence the asthma conditions, which can be so bad some days that it's hard to walk up my stairs from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Before you even think to feel sorry for me: know that I really just want to explore my experiences in writing, and with my readers, but do not think for a second I won't kick your ass in my next race, if given the chance. I'm healing, taking time for exploring natural therapies as well as Western medical practices to get all these issues under control. I think that because it's very difficult for me to be vulnerable AND feel vulnerable I have been silent on these issues. I've only shared them with a few people. Now, I'm ready to write about them, to conquer them, to continue my path toward creating some of the most epic trail running events ever... Promise...and to running my strongest races yet.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dseAP3kvEOA/V3ir7SMM_1I/AAAAAAAAJ7M/idl3wwF3JUc_dH1lyQrN1LtKcrJslojJgCKgB/s1600/IMG_5640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dseAP3kvEOA/V3ir7SMM_1I/AAAAAAAAJ7M/idl3wwF3JUc_dH1lyQrN1LtKcrJslojJgCKgB/s400/IMG_5640.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Training a week ago on the Tahoe Rim Trail, 50 mile day despite breathing issues.</td></tr></tbody></table>If you don't believe it, then I'll just have to show you how it's done. In the meantime, enjoy some 200 mile porn. <a href="http://www.destinationtrailrun.com/" target="_blank">My 200s and my 8 other events </a>have been keeping me busy, full time. Especially this time of year with <a href="http://www.bigfoot200.com/" target="_blank">Bigfoot 200</a> just one month away and <a href="http://www.tahoe200.com/" target="_blank">Tahoe 200</a> two months away!! So excited honestly, we have some amazing runners and we are filming a documentary about them this year. Sometimes, running isn't about "me" but even better, it's about leaving a legacy, I hope. One that pushes people beyond what they think is possible until they realize their true infinite capabilities. I'm not just talking about elite runners here, I mean to show the couch potato, the average runner that even they can inspire themselves, and thus the world. 200s are conquered by the mind first, the body second.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iYMLzZZB8rg/V3ilcUTrcTI/AAAAAAAAJ6w/_FckdGypIxYoNpx05R36yhRgiSaeBsmVwCLcB/s1600/Tahoe%2B200%2Bpromo%2Bposter.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iYMLzZZB8rg/V3ilcUTrcTI/AAAAAAAAJ6w/_FckdGypIxYoNpx05R36yhRgiSaeBsmVwCLcB/s640/Tahoe%2B200%2Bpromo%2Bposter.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v7xTnMX12n8/V3ilgRG25BI/AAAAAAAAJ60/Hmx4_8i11VEpnMDn6v95tj5modlTKJvEwCLcB/s1600/Bigfoot%2B200%2BPromo%2Bposter.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v7xTnMX12n8/V3ilgRG25BI/AAAAAAAAJ60/Hmx4_8i11VEpnMDn6v95tj5modlTKJvEwCLcB/s640/Bigfoot%2B200%2BPromo%2Bposter.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: &quot;lucida grande&quot; , &quot;lucida&quot; , &quot;verdana&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>Candicenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-34721228101235583362016-04-15T20:47:00.001-07:002016-04-15T20:56:26.310-07:00The New 200+ Races: What's on the Horizon for 2017I'm ready to reveal a few events that I have been working on, if not directly (I'm not in the field fastpacking until next week), then by envisioning how I can clone myself into another 4 race directors. Jokes aside, I have decided to add not one, but two 200 mile race in 2017. Before you get all excited and shit, keep in mind that these will be very, very different beasts than the 200s I currently organize. And they'd have to be for me to be able to do an entire grand slam in one year. They will be harder, but cheaper. They will not be for beginners, but beginners with the right motivation will be able to tackle them (maybe).<br /><b><br /></b><b>New Races for 2017, pending permits:</b><br /><br />Arizona 250 mile - June 2017<br />Stephen Jones' Moab 200 - July 2017<br /><br /><b>In addition, we will include in the new Grand Slam, our current races:</b><br />Bigfoot 200 - August<br />Tahoe 200 - September<br /><br /><b>So what makes the new 200s so different?&nbsp;</b><br /><ul><li>Whereas my current 200s have major aid stations every 6 - 22 miles, these 200s will only have drop bag locations every 10 - 30 miles, water only aid stations as needed and major aid every 50 - 60 miles.&nbsp;</li><li>You will be required to navigate without course markings. We will give every participant a map of the course and you will have access to GPS data (GPS devices will be allowed).&nbsp;</li><li>We will not have medical or major communications teams. We will track runners for safety purposes only.&nbsp;</li><li>Fewer participants will be allowed (around 60-100 total per 200)</li></ul><div><b>Those are the differences, but they are very major.</b> Those differences will allow us to organize the two new 200s with a minimum of work. Permits, websites, planning, employee costs will still be high for us, but with just 4-5 major aid stations we will be able to offer the races at a fraction of the cost.&nbsp;</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>So what exactly will you get for these 200s?</b></div><div><ul><li>You will get a 200+ mile stunning course that is mapped out and planned for you. It's like getting the cliff notes to a bad ass book, doesn't hurt to have the notes, but you're gonna wanna read that mother fucker.&nbsp;</li><li>You'll still get some babysitting in terms of having your gear dropped (and picked up) at 10+ locations as well as some sweet aid at 4-5 locations including hot food, warm tents, beer, and shit too.&nbsp;</li><li>You'll be running with a group of BAMFs. That should be good for stories around the campfire.&nbsp;</li><li>Enhance or Worsen your current relationship with your partner/crew/friends/lover</li><li>We'll have the usual Destination Trail post race party awesomeness including awards, buckles, fires, beer, food, and friends with guest appearances by a live band and a real finish line arch!&nbsp;</li><li>Satisfaction</li><li>Maybe, just maybe you might be able to complete the Grand Slam of 200s.&nbsp;</li></ul></div><br /><b>Ok, I might be interested. So how do I get in?</b><br /><ul><li>You must have finished Barkley at least 2x.&nbsp;</li><li>You've beaten the Hardrock lottery and gotten into the race more than 3 times but either DNF'd or DNS'd each time you've gotten into this insanely hard-to-get-into-lottery. That may only qualify 2 male individuals in the world. Guess who they are and win automatic (not free) entry!&nbsp;</li><li>You are required to have a crew of 10 plus license plates from 49 of the 50 states in the USA.&nbsp;</li><li>The race director shall be provided with at least 3 coins of pirate origin</li><li>Write a 20 page essay about what's wrong with our current political system</li><li>Did I say you need to send 49 license plates? Make sure at least 1 out of 3 are vanity plates. Points for funny shit.&nbsp;</li><li>That's it!&nbsp;</li></ul><div>But seriously, these races are not a joke, only the the so-called entry requirements are. Most likely we will abandon all elitist entry requirements and instead allow any poor soul to fork over a few buckeroos and run the damn thing.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Stay tuned crazy ones. We got some good stuff brewing over yonder.&nbsp;</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-62535522760551265262016-04-11T11:13:00.003-07:002016-04-11T11:33:55.039-07:00How to Train & Mentally Prepare for a 200 Mile Foot Race<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; letter-spacing: 0.26px; line-height: 32px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">“If we all did the things we are capable of doing,&nbsp;</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; letter-spacing: 0.26px; line-height: 32px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">we would literally astound ourselves.” — Thomas Alva Edison</span></i></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lMs0hgzwjZo/Vwr2hko7kdI/AAAAAAAAJro/4K2p_FFa-XEisSdlXsMaqSxW5gkZrssaw/s1600/bf4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lMs0hgzwjZo/Vwr2hko7kdI/AAAAAAAAJro/4K2p_FFa-XEisSdlXsMaqSxW5gkZrssaw/s400/bf4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bigfoot 200, 2015, by Howie Stern</td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">200s Are the New 100</span></b><br />I want to start by saying this is meant to be a guide to the types of workouts (both mental and physical) to include in your training for a 200. It is by no means exhaustive and it is purposefully not super detailed. You need to do the hard work (or your coach) to determine what mileage is best for you as well as exactly which workouts to include and which to leave out each week. It's an art and it's also intuitive. Trust your body, your intuition and your innate ability to be a runner.<br /><br />As much as running 200 miles may blow your mind, it's really not as crazy or extreme as you think. In fact, it's attainable even for those who have completed a small fraction of the distance. Take Ken Dam's story. Ken helped at the inaugural Tahoe 200 in 2014. Shortly after the race he got very sick and had to have a large portion of his intestines taken out. Even by early 2015 he was still recovering from surgery he had to have in December. Even though the longest run he had ever completed was just 35 miles (pacing for the Bigfoot 200) and he barely just recovered from major surgery, he decided to run the 2015 Tahoe 200. Then this happened, amazingly:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CMtz2PZ5lxc/VwsJWDaiXMI/AAAAAAAAJtw/h6DZG9uwiwstn2qtr3kdHX_iC8MEPfEvQ/s1600/12002238_10206449950680915_3505764136986014676_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CMtz2PZ5lxc/VwsJWDaiXMI/AAAAAAAAJtw/h6DZG9uwiwstn2qtr3kdHX_iC8MEPfEvQ/s200/12002238_10206449950680915_3505764136986014676_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t-oDovaz7Lw/VwsJcROCMUI/AAAAAAAAJt4/nZY8VSuU5pc1VSUXpjwKyl7LAHhvbwgcg/s1600/11990479_10206485845818271_1696957369094769765_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t-oDovaz7Lw/VwsJcROCMUI/AAAAAAAAJt4/nZY8VSuU5pc1VSUXpjwKyl7LAHhvbwgcg/s200/11990479_10206485845818271_1696957369094769765_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>As race director for the <a href="http://www.tahoe200.com/" target="_blank">Tahoe 200</a> &amp; <a href="http://www.bigfoot200.com/" target="_blank">Bigfoot 200</a> as well as someone who runs and fastpacks long distances, I've wanted to write a post on how to train for this new thing we call "2's" or 200 milers. As many of you have noticed, since the explosive introduction of the Tahoe 200 in late 2013 (we had almost 200 lottery applicants for 90 spots that first year!) 200s have been popping up everywhere. 200s had been around before the Tahoe 200, they just hadn't really gotten much media attention. The Tahoe 200 in its introduction in 2013/2014 seemed to inspire many runners to attempt (or bucket list) the distance with it's non-repetitive, adventurous route in a stunning and iconic location.<br /><br />Without further ado, here are some of the training guidelines that will help any runner complete this massive, but life changing distance as well as some essential gear suggestions and resources for further study.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WlXY8zX5_jg/Vwr2hGIWVDI/AAAAAAAAJrc/SSe72rVWnzcGqwUrVPatWN16V8N54ze1Q/s1600/bf30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WlXY8zX5_jg/Vwr2hGIWVDI/AAAAAAAAJrc/SSe72rVWnzcGqwUrVPatWN16V8N54ze1Q/s400/bf30.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skyler Mills, training smart for upcoming Tahoe 200 <br />during his crew/pacing duties at Bigfoot 200 (Aug 2015). Photo by Howie Stern</td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">Train Smart, Not Necessarily More</span></b><br />What I mean here is that there is a limit to how much the human body can handle before it begins to break down MORE than it can build up. This is likely one of the most important lessons that you don't want to learn the hard way. It's good news for most of us because we don't have much time for training in the day between family obligations, work, and other activities we enjoy. Also consider <b>counting your training in hours not miles</b> because hours levels the playing field between slower and faster runners. If a slow runner is trying to do 100 miles a week, it may take them 25-30hrs a week while a faster runner may accomplish that in 15 hours. The following also influences how fast/far you can run in training per week: altitude, whether you are on trail or on roads, flat vs. hilly routes, technicality of routes... not to mention your personal life.<br /><br />Each person has their own mileage/ "time devoted to training" limit, but for most humans it seems like keeping the mileage under 100 miles a week is a good idea, at least for most weeks. You're going to want to have some high mileage / lots of time on your feet training weeks to do your best, but what is considered "high" will depend on your overall training and the time you have to devote to it. You're going to have to find your own sweet spot. For some it's 40-60 miles a week with cross training, for others it's 70-90, and for fewer it's 90+. Those who do 50 miles a week aren't necessarily any less fit for a 200 - especially if they include the following guidelines in their training. So do what works for you and train smart by getting in the Back to back long runs, fastpacking, and other race specific training runs.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Go Fastpacking</span></b><br />In case you don't know what fastpacking is, it's like backpacking but going more minimal and running when you can. Usually it's a mix or running and hiking over several days with a heavier pack than you'd use for a race or one-day excursion. I love using fastpacking for training for tough 100s and 200s. Here's why: it toughens your body up by carrying a heavier pack and it gives you invaluable feedback on what gear will/won't work for your 200 mile race. It also strengthens your hiking muscles and increases your endurance more than any 1 day run could. Mentally, fastpacking mimics a 200 miler and will make you tougher as you run/hike through the night, or if you're camping out at night, it will get you used to sleeping with less comfortable gear. After all, you're traveling light, so no kitchen sink allowed.<br /><br />To create a good fastpacking adventure for training, choose a route that is 75-200 miles, go for less mileage if you haven't done much fastpacking as it is a learned skill. I recommend getting the route you want to do on a GPS device and carrying all the essentials you may need for safety. I don't personally bring a camp stove or sleeping pad (unless it's going to be cold), but I always bring lots of food, GPS, maps, extra batteries, at least 2 headlamps, rain jacket, rain pants (even if it isn't supposed to rain), and extra clothing in case of emergency. I may need to do another post just on how to fastpack, it's such an important skill. &nbsp;Try to fit in 1-4 fastpacking excursions before your big event. Fastpacking usually lasts 2-4 continuous days, and can be done over a weekend. It's up to you! Channel your inner race director and create a route!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCNRvtr_17Y/Vwr5KZlCFmI/AAAAAAAAJsk/AQIXwztF5g8VWSstUelWh2zsT0zZHGOZw/s1600/intern2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YCNRvtr_17Y/Vwr5KZlCFmI/AAAAAAAAJsk/AQIXwztF5g8VWSstUelWh2zsT0zZHGOZw/s320/intern2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fastpacking on the Bigfoot 200 course</td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">LSD is Your Best Friend</span></b><br />Not the drug silly, but rather Long, Slow Distance runs (although to each their own...). Try to fit in a long run of 15-50 miles every 1-2 weeks. I say 15-50 because I know that it doesn't always work to get in a 50 miler or even 30 miler, and honestly you really don't need to. Some weeks you may get in a day with 15 miles (try to back it up with a 10 or 15 miler the next day if possible) and some weeks you may race a 50 miler. Both are good because you need the experience of time on your feet (25-50 mile runs/races are perfect for this) but you need lighter weeks just as much for rest and recovery. Remember, it's about training smart and rest is smart!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OPbOKDtYtAw/Vwr3NZxkTTI/AAAAAAAAJr4/-itljCYVTQAN1t-WhMdpVCyxlbr6IH7mA/s1600/8M2A6200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OPbOKDtYtAw/Vwr3NZxkTTI/AAAAAAAAJr4/-itljCYVTQAN1t-WhMdpVCyxlbr6IH7mA/s400/8M2A6200.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Scott Rokis, Tahoe 200, 2014</td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">Race Long Ultras</span></b><br />Of course you can do all your training without racing, but I think races offer invaluable information on how your gear works as well as give you the opportunity to push harder than you would in a training run. They also give you a mental edge, it takes a lot to put yourself and your training out there! I don't recommend doing a 100 miler within a month of your 200 because I don't think that it gives you enough rest, UNLESS you take it easy. Keep yourself from pushing hard and then it may be ok for the more experienced ultra runners. The race should feel super easy and relaxed and if you feel any injuries then I recommend dropping out. I'd like to add that some people who run 200s do a lot of races--all the time--and I think because of this their bodies can handle the stress, but most runners are not able to handle the stress of lots of racing. It also comes down to differences in body types and training. If you get injured easily, a lot of racing is probably a bad idea. Racing recommendations:&nbsp;<i>1x month to 1x every 2 to 3 months, depending on the distance you want to race, how hard you race, your experience level in ultras and your ability to handle mileage.</i><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Back-To-Back Long Runs</span></b><br />Running two or three long runs in a row is an excellent way of training for 200s without putting as much stress on your body as doing one really long run would. This could mean 15mi-15mi-15mi back to back runs or maybe 25mi-25mi or 20-15-10, really whatever works for your schedule. These runs will serve to toughen up your legs, enhance your endurance, and teach you to mentally accept and even enjoy going out day after day on runs. <i>Do 1x a month or 1x every 2 months. Those who can handle higher mileage may do it more often.&nbsp;</i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do Race-Specific Training Runs</span></b><br />This concept is key to racing well in any event. What I mean by <b><i>train race specific </i></b>is choose training runs that will mimic the terrain, technicality, elevation gains and losses, altitude (if possible), weather and other conditions and mental challenges you will face during your 200 miler. Some of this you will not know until race day, but get as much information about the route that you can from previous year's finishers, runner's manuals, and race reports. The workouts outlined in this article will help you prepare for a tough 200 miler, but there will be specifics about your race that you will want to learn in advance.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WIlL7QeC3mQ/VwvlTTMctlI/AAAAAAAAJvM/JdpV0iD5dp0FerdRnC40ajV2s8xbv2aJA/s1600/8M2A7191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WIlL7QeC3mQ/VwvlTTMctlI/AAAAAAAAJvM/JdpV0iD5dp0FerdRnC40ajV2s8xbv2aJA/s400/8M2A7191.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is your race exposed terrain? In a hot climate location? Cold? Will it be technical or smooth? <br />Is it hilly or flat? Photo by Scott Rokis, Tahoe 200, 2014. &nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">Cross Training</span></b><br />For me cross training has always been key to succeeding in ultras because I have many outdoor passions and I tend to burn out when I maintain higher mileage for long periods of time. Plus I love yoga and would never want to give it up for achieving super high running mileage. I also feel that 200s are so much more strength based than other race distances and so cross training that works your entire body is key to dealing with the fatigue that you will feel after that first 100 miles. The stronger your body is overall the easier it will be to keep moving for up to 4 days! Jim Trout, winner of the 2015 Tahoe 200 echoes these sentiments as well as doing the cross training that works best for you, individually:<br /><i><br /></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"I</span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">&nbsp;did LOTS of cross-training: mt. biking, adventure racing, hiking, kayaking, bicycle commuting 6 miles every day, frisbee with the kids, etc. Tried some Yoga for a few weeks, then just wanted to get outside...Over the years I've tried to fol</span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;">low plans and day-to-day schedules but I never have lived up to them and consequently feel disappointed with myself. Working errands into runs helped me scrape every last minute I had to spare with getting out the hokas. "I'll meet you at the grocery store" or "I'll run back home from my parents house" became common requests."&nbsp;</span></i><br /><i><span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px;"><br /></span></i>I highly, highly recommend the following sports based on my own success with the following modalities: yoga, cycling, weight lifting, swimming, backcountry skiing, bodyweight exercises, anything core based, and even crossfit-type workouts (don't overdue it though!). Really whatever you love to do. Don't do it if you don't love it, after all there are just too many fun things to do to waste your time on things you don't enjoy. Key with successful cross training is to do it regularly. A daily or weekly strength routine is a really good idea. Try my <a href="http://www.wilddefined.com/2014/12/get-in-killer-shape-with-200100-daily.html" target="_blank">200/100 workout</a> to get in killer shape! <i>Do cross training 1x a day to 1x week, depending on the cross training and your schedule. Easy days can be cross training days, just make sure to take it easy!&nbsp;</i><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BTZNFCWqAP4/UzJ4DNZn96I/AAAAAAAAFNc/hLg2QN19870PMhV30UuV5gzw32RuZjTUg/s1600/IMG_6229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BTZNFCWqAP4/UzJ4DNZn96I/AAAAAAAAFNc/hLg2QN19870PMhV30UuV5gzw32RuZjTUg/s400/IMG_6229.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd recommend regular yoga, cycling, and strength training as my top 3 cross training suggestions.<br />I personally prefer power vinyasa yoga. Yoga will keep you flexible while making you very strong from the core outward. &nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Include Long Hill Repeats, Hill Workouts, &amp; Hilly Long Runs</span></b><br />Hill workouts of any type will make you a stronger runner. Hills are the strength training of the running world. Try this workout for more endurance-based strength work: <a href="http://www.wilddefined.com/2014/10/weekly-workout-challenge-for-trail.html" target="_blank">Steep Uphill Continuous Run</a>. Also consider adding some shorter hill repeats, like 1/4mi uphill (80% intensity) with 1/4 mile easy/rest. Begin with fewer reps (4-6 reps) and work up to more reps (6-15 reps). Another good hill workout is to choose a hilly route for your long run. A hilly long run is a relatively easy way to get in the benefits of a hill workout without psyching yourself out, and a great way to mix it up. Hill workouts will make you mentally and physically tough. They are the bread and butter of any runner's weekly workouts. <i>Do a hill based workout at least 1x week. If you live in the flatlands, find stairs or revert to the dreaded treadmill. Whatever it takes!</i><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Train Regularly with Your Gear and Nutrition</span></b><br />You need to have all systems dialed for a 200 miler and training with the gear and nutrition will help you determine what you want to use during the race including what works and what doesn't. I really believe in the saying, "Don't use anything new race day", although there are always exceptions and I have broken this rule many a times! Ideally you will have a good idea of what works for you on your longer runs through regular and methodical practice. <i>Don't wait until a month before the race to think about what gear &amp; food you might need.</i> Keep in mind that nutrition wise during a 200 you will likely eat a lot more real food than in any other race of shorter distance. I've noticed that the body just needs more nutritious foods after 100 miles and because 200 mile pace is slower you can also digest more substantive foods. <i>Do a gear/nutrition workout at least 1x week. That means take everything you plan to use for your 200 on a long run. This will prepare your body for the added pack weight and give you a chance to practice for your big day.&nbsp;</i><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SrmjRXtJGZY/Vwr2hDqdwtI/AAAAAAAAJrY/5uFVHyNRCnA8reZoZjK1xwnWUMdsRQ-WQ/s1600/bf1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SrmjRXtJGZY/Vwr2hDqdwtI/AAAAAAAAJrY/5uFVHyNRCnA8reZoZjK1xwnWUMdsRQ-WQ/s400/bf1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kerry Ward enjoys the tough volcano rock sections during the Bigfoot 200, photo by Howie Stern, 2015.</td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">Train Like You're Focusing on a Tough 100 Miler</span></b><br />I love this idea because honestly if you think about training for 200 miles you are likely to overdue it or give up. Anyone who is well trained for a 100 will be ready for a 200 as long as they maintain confidence and mental toughness. On forums on Facebook the following point came up regularly: Kent Dozier (aka Bull Dozier) wrote that, <i>"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">J<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 16.08px;">ust train like a 100 but make the long runs a little longer. Make sure to train for hiking up long hills. I like Victor's recommendation of doing 25 miles every other day for 2 weeks, about 3-4 weeks out from the race."&nbsp;</span></span></i><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Make Hiking Part of Your Training</span></b><br />Let's face it, even the front runners are going to be hiking a lot in a 200 miler. If you only train running then your legs will actually get sore from hiking so much! Make sure to include training runs that are "hiking heavy" like fastpacking, long runs with lots of steep hills, and one of my personal favorites:<br /><br /><i>Find a long, steep hill that's 1/2mile- 3miles long. Generally it's best if it climbs 600-1300ft per mile (the more the better) Do repeats on this hill by hiking at 80% max on the uphill and jogging easy on the downhill for recovery repeat 2-4x.&nbsp;</i><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">If a 100 miler is 80% mental, a 200 is 99% Mental</span></b><br />Don't forget that so much of racing and training comes down to your attitude and how much <i><b>you fucking want IT</b></i>. Don't allow yourself to blame anyone or thing. Don't fall trap to the existential crisis of making the adventure meaningless. Take responsibility for your journey, your emotions, your physical state and everything that comes your way. A strong, positive mental state will carry you though almost anything. I love the quote,<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; <i>"Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal. " --Henry Ford&nbsp;</i></div><i><br /></i>Use your training runs, cross training, challenges in life, and remind yourself of all that you have sacrificed to get to where you are on race day. These things will remind you that you can get through anything. A 200 is nothing compared to what you have been through in your life to date, I'm sure of this. Remember too that finishing the 200 will give you courage to face other challenges in your life. It will break you apart and help you rebuild stronger.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rest Like a Champ</span></b><br />Get lots of sleep, taper, and keep all races easy in that last month of preparation for a 200 miler. In other words, treat your recovery like it's just as important as your training. Some would argue that a taper is not necessary, but I'm not of that camp. I feel that a taper is important. Start about a month before the race. At this point you will still want to be running long runs but don't run yourself into the ground intensity wise. Gradually taper your mileage so that you feel rested before your big event. I think it's worth saying that some people do not seem to need a taper. If you know yourself well then you will know what to do that last month before the race. If you're not sure then it's probably not worth pushing really hard that last month only to enter the race fatigued. The final 2 weeks before the race will be an important time to get extra rest at night. Sleep deprivation can be tough on even the most rested! Rest and caring for one's self can also come in the form of getting regular massage, physical therapy, and other healing modalities.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3ZqMzVdVfk/Vwr6IrUVnmI/AAAAAAAAJs8/tZBRHbNSGvU6uxkqsxylsWJ01efIszOcw/s1600/bf9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3ZqMzVdVfk/Vwr6IrUVnmI/AAAAAAAAJs8/tZBRHbNSGvU6uxkqsxylsWJ01efIszOcw/s400/bf9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A runner grabs some sleep during the Bigfoot 200, Photo by Howie Stern, 2015</td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">Relax</span></b><br />Just because 200 miles is likely 2x (or longer!) than you've ever run doesn't mean you should freak out and overtrain or make yourself miserable worrying about this and that. Truth is you could probably cover the distance tomorrow if you wanted to. Generally cut offs are generous enough to allow for plenty of hiking. Plus, it's supposed to be fun! One step at a time! You got this. It's going to be a spectacular journey, stay positive. <i>To become better at relaxing, try meditating every day. </i>I love the following quote to remind me of these facts:<br /><address style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 1.6em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The true miracle is not walking on water or walking in air,&nbsp;</span></em><em style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">but simply walking on this earth.”</span></em><em style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">― Thích Nhất Hạnh</span>&nbsp;</em></span></address><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSi3kNmMfsQ/Vwr3NgFmawI/AAAAAAAAJr8/-J1HYnW0jKk3DFGL-P6kCG8s3cdxwslkg/s1600/8M2A5900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VSi3kNmMfsQ/Vwr3NgFmawI/AAAAAAAAJr8/-J1HYnW0jKk3DFGL-P6kCG8s3cdxwslkg/s400/8M2A5900.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start of the Tahoe 200 by Scott Rokis, 2014.</td></tr></tbody></table><address style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 1.6em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: large;">Training That is Totally Unnecessary for 200s&nbsp;</span></b></address><address style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin: 1.6em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-color: transparent;">But if you enjoy any of the following workouts go ahead and do them, just don't get injured! Remember that everyone is an individual and enjoys certain workouts so just because it's on this list doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. You probably just don't need to do it.&nbsp;</i></address><ul><li>Track workouts</li><li>Speed Workouts</li><li>High Intensity Workouts: for cross training it can be helpful, but for running it can just get you injured</li><li>High Mileage (over 90 miles a week)</li><li>Lots of 100 mile races: works for some, but not necessary</li></ul><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Gear that 200 Mile&nbsp;Graduates Just Won't Go Without</span></b><br /><i>I asked my 200 mile finishers what gear they thought was essential for running a 200 miler and here's what they said, keep in mind as Will Fortin stated on our Facebook forum, "<span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 16.08px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I really don't think it is gear that makes a successful 200," but I think we would all agree it can help!</span></span></i><br /><ul><li><b>First off </b>check out <a href="https://youtu.be/j-mfHyQstsA" target="_blank">Kerry Ward's video: How to Pack for an Ultramarathon</a> (in this case for the Bigfoot 200). I think you can go lighter than he did, but it's a helpful video.&nbsp;</li><li><b>Hiking Poles</b>: Go with carbon fiber if you can afford it. You can get cheaper poles, but the carbon ones are oh-so-wonderfully light! The overall favorite seems to be the Black Diamond Carbon Fiber Z Poles. Be sure to check with your race of choice to see if they are allowed (they are allowed at Bigfoot 200 &amp; Tahoe 200).</li><li><b>Comfortable Pack</b> with lots of front storage. I prefer (and am sponsored by) <a href="https://ultimatedirection.com/" target="_blank">Ultimate Direction</a>. I love their packs and not just because they give me their awesome gear, but because I chose them. Back in 2012 when I ran for a competing company, I realized I just couldn't ever again run for a company just because they agreed to pay me and give me free gear. I had to love their product, so I messaged some of the folks at UD and said that I wanted to run for them because their products were so cutting edge, light, and well IMHO they were and are the best. Check out the UD Fastpack 20 (most space, you'll never be cramming stuff in), the PB Vest (lots of space), and the Ultra Vesta (less space but good for those who have everything dialed and like going light).&nbsp;</li><li><b>Lightweight Jacket</b> at all times, see "Rain Gear". Save space by getting an ultralight rain jacket, but keep in mind that the lighter the jacket the less likely it is to be waterproof. Ultimate Direction had a great new <a href="https://ultimatedirection.com/wearable-gear/" target="_blank">lightweight rain jacket!</a></li><li><b>High Quality Headlamp</b>, and an extra headlamp in case one dies. Yes, sometimes headlamps inexplicably stop working. Have extras. My favorite? Petzl Nao. Get extra rechargeable batteries! I also use regular headlamp around my waist.</li><li><b>Water Purification Method</b>: you won't need this for multi loop urban courses, but for mountain 200s you will want a way to filter water since some aid stations are spaced far apart. I personally like the Sawyer Filter or SteriPen.&nbsp;</li><li><b>Changes of Clothing &amp; Shoes</b>: Especially shoes and socks. Many runners find that their feet swell up so having larger sized shoes for the latter stages of a 200 is a good idea. Ask the RD where water crossings are and try to place extra shoes in drop bags after these sections. Some races have so many water crossings that this is sort of pointless. For the Bigfoot &amp; Tahoe races you can get around just about every water crossing without getting wet unless it's a high snow year.&nbsp;</li><li><b>Plenty of Extra Food</b>: It's going to start taking you longer to get from aid station to aid station in the latter stages of a 200, plus at 200 mile pace you should be able to eat more real food! Check with the race to see what will be at aid stations. Always care "emergency calories" in case you get lost, injured or if a section takes longer than expected.&nbsp;</li><li><b>Foot Care:</b> When runners have medical problems it's 90% of the time foot/ankle issues. Learn how to deal with blisters, foot chaffing, ankle sprains and more. Consider using gaiters even if you've never used them before. they will keep the micro sand, dirt, and pebbles out of your shoes, the first step toward keeping your feet free from problems. Some use duct tape to cover blisters (use a bandage over it first, others use moleskin or KT tape/sports tape/Leukotape. Covering blister-prone areas of your feet is great insurance before you even set off on the trail. Read <a href="http://www.johnvonhof.com/Fixing-Your-Feet.html" target="_blank">Fixing Your Feet</a>., you can purchase it <a href="https://www.wildernesspress.com/search.php?mode=search&amp;page=1&amp;keep_https=yes" target="_blank">here</a>. &nbsp;It's the best damn book on the subject and far too many people quit ultras each year because of preventable and fixable issues with their feet.&nbsp;</li><li><b>Anti-chaffing product</b>: You're going to want something to put in those chaffing prone areas before you even set out on the trail. I really like <a href="http://www.2toms.com/" target="_blank">2Toms</a>, but there are lots of great products out there to choose from. I've heard great things about RunGoo and Trail Toes.</li><li><b>Change of Clothing in Drop Bags</b>: You're gonna need to freshen up, let's face it. It's 200 freaking badass stinky, sweaty fun miles. Put socks in all drop bags. Non- negotiable.&nbsp;</li><li><b>Socks:</b> As mentioned above, put a fresh pair of socks in every drop bag. It feels amazing on tired feet to have new socks. On that note, I know that Paul Romero (2nd overall Tahoe 200, 2015) ran with NO socks! But for most of us that just isn't gonna happen. A lot of 200 mile runners prefer&nbsp;<a href="http://www.injinji.com/" target="_blank">injinji socks</a>. They are the "toe" socks you have seen. I love them because regular socks can get a bit tighter and more constrictive after washing and injinji socks will keep all your toes separated which cuts back on chaffing and keeps your toes cooler in hot weather.&nbsp;</li><li><b>Rain Gear</b>: This is a important safety consideration. Have a lightweight waterproof jacket at all times. Consider having lightweight waterproof pants as well.&nbsp;</li><li><b>Warm clothes</b> for sleep stations. I actually always carry a light down jacket at all times. I'd rather carry that little bit of extra weight than freeze on the trail. Think: gloves, hat/buff, puffy jacket, pants (wool, synthetic).</li><li><b>GPS &amp; Maps</b>: A lot of runners really liked using the Gaia app on their phones, it was minimal cost and can be used while phone is on battery saving airplane mode. If you have more money to invest consider getting a higher powered device that runs off of batteries. I mapped all the courses with a Garmin 64st. There are better and flashier models now - so go to your local retailer and check them out if you can invest several hundred dollars. <i>Always, I repeat ALWAYS carry a hard copy map for mountain 100s.</i></li><li><b>Ziplock Baggies</b>: I love this one because it's totally how I keep my stuff dry and separated inside my pack. Put extra in drop bags. use gallon size for clothing.&nbsp;</li><li><b>Ability to Carry Water</b>: Depends on the race, but for hotter races with long stretches between aid make sure you have high capacity bladder and/or bottles.&nbsp;</li><li><b>Cheat Sheet:</b> List of aid stations, mileages, and possibly the race profile</li><li><b>Sunscreen/chapstick:</b> if I don't want to carry a lot of sunscreen I put it in a ziplock. Works pretty well. Double ziplock for added security</li><li><b>Buff:</b> Can work as a hat, scarf, sweat wicker (on wrist) and more!&nbsp;</li><li><b>Pills:</b> A lot of runners stated that they used salt caps. I don't use them personally, but you might find them and other pills like TUMS, caffeine etc, are helpful, just be cautious when using anything as some medications can be dangerous when doing endurance events.&nbsp;</li></ul><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ou8fhiF7i7k/Vwr6IIf447I/AAAAAAAAJtA/IeOzdVCiqWMLAV6y9BUmxSMEsSoBLuikw/s1600/bf34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ou8fhiF7i7k/Vwr6IIf447I/AAAAAAAAJtA/IeOzdVCiqWMLAV6y9BUmxSMEsSoBLuikw/s320/bf34.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaiters are highly recommended!</td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">200 Mile Resources</span></b><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bigfoot200/" target="_blank">Bigfoot 200 Facebook Forum</a>&nbsp;Ask questions and learn about other's training &amp; more!<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/tahoe200/" target="_blank">Tahoe 200 Facebook Forum</a> Ask questions and learn about other's training &amp; more!<br /><a href="http://www.wilddefined.com/2015/11/why-200-mile-athletes-do-not-quit.html" target="_blank">Why 200 Mile Athletes Do Not Quit</a><br /><a href="https://youtu.be/j-mfHyQstsA" target="_blank">Kerry Ward's video: How to Pack for an Ultramarathon</a>&nbsp;(Here he shows what he packed for the Bigfoot 200)<br /><a href="http://www.hogandfox.com/run-200s/" target="_blank">Run 200s:</a> Dustin Smith, finisher of the Triple Crown of 2's last year goes in depth on lists of 200s, foot care, training, and other essential info<br /><a href="http://trailrunnernation.com/2015/11/how-to-win-two-200-mile-races-with-gia-madole/" target="_blank">How to Win Two 200 Mile Races with Gia Madole</a>- podcast<br /><a href="http://trailrunnernation.com/2014/09/tahoe-200-but-what-if-i-can/" target="_blank">Tahoe 200 - But What If I Can?</a>- podcast<br /><a href="https://iancorless.org/2016/01/22/episode-104-candice-burt-lucy-bartholomew-zach-bitter/" target="_blank">Talk Ultra Episode 104</a>&nbsp;Talk Ultra and I discuss the appeal of 200s, podcast<br /><a href="http://www.wilddefined.com/2014/04/how-to-be-tough-as-nails-mentally-for.html" target="_blank">How to be Tough as Nails Mentally for Your 100 Miler</a><br /><a href="http://www.wilddefined.com/p/weekly-workout-challenges.html" target="_blank">Weekly Workout Challenges</a><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Get Inspired&nbsp;</span></b><br /><a href="https://youtu.be/duegZKZEwQA" target="_blank">Race Trailer for Bigfoot 200</a><br /><a href="https://youtu.be/_3bCukkSqOM" target="_blank">Race Trailer for Tahoe 200</a><br /><a href="https://youtu.be/MRZF3ZIftMA" target="_blank">Bigfoot 200: Toughest Ultra in USA?</a><br /><a href="https://youtu.be/daebFRO-7s0" target="_blank">Tahoe 200 by Kerry Ward</a><br /><a href="http://wjla.com/news/nation-world/man-who-lost-daughter-to-cancer-running-200-miles-in-four-days-to-raise-money-awareness" target="_blank">Tattoo Tom Runs 200 Miles For 200 Children with Childhood Cancer</a><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyecyEXuXek&amp;nohtml5=False" target="_blank">200 Mile Races with Victor Ballesteros</a>, Journey Film<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kjctvRxRNrg/Vwr3OrkfMZI/AAAAAAAAJsI/FtW_iZDoAb8h3nEtQf1i4ilNltqmmiRiw/s1600/Tahoe%2B200.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kjctvRxRNrg/Vwr3OrkfMZI/AAAAAAAAJsI/FtW_iZDoAb8h3nEtQf1i4ilNltqmmiRiw/s400/Tahoe%2B200.jpeg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tahoe 200 course: one single loop around iconic Lake Tahoe!&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7sZV5WVGJY/Vwr3NJlsgYI/AAAAAAAAJr0/8XZRyBXJY0MNEfEj46whsRNYaj67G2Sog/s1600/8M2A7743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d7sZV5WVGJY/Vwr3NJlsgYI/AAAAAAAAJr0/8XZRyBXJY0MNEfEj46whsRNYaj67G2Sog/s400/8M2A7743.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nighttime can be some of the most peaceful and beautiful moments, especially in <br />Tahoe where you're likely to enjoy beautiful clear starry nights! Photo by Scott Rokis, 2014</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Good luck training!<br />Please add any training suggestions, inspirational articles/posts, essential gear you may have in the comment section!<br /><br /><div class="p1" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Want More?</span></b></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Facebook Page</span></a></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail"><span style="font-size: x-small;">YouTube Channel</span></a></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Instagram</span></a></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Twitter</span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Google+</span></a></span></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-31434942088335479022016-04-05T23:06:00.000-07:002016-04-11T11:08:17.660-07:00Knowing you're at a cross roads without getting TOO lost...It should be obvious, however sometimes, or I should say often times, I am a bit dense when it comes to realizing I'm in place that requires a major change in my perspective. I'd say I have to deal with this minor, becoming major inconvenience of CHANGE every year or TWO. In fact, in the past, changes in the personal perspective department have required the following: breakups, hospital visits, injuries, births of children and other massive life earthquakes. But why not allow thigh cramps, IPA indulgences, or Bernie winning Wisconsin determine timing for leaving social media and pursuing life!<br /><br />I've always felt like many missed out on blogging or real writing (which blogging can only claim but not own) by posting all that shit on Facebook is just downright stupid (sorry I love you but c'mon!!!). If you're gonna write about it, just fucking write about it. Like, seriously dude. WRITE. Write like you're in a drug fueled Tom Wolfe rage or Hunter S. Thompson freaking monologue. Or write about it somewhere anywhere but facebook. Or twitter (is it possible to write on twitter?).<br /><br />On moving forward, I say, you are probably a runner and good on you but I think that we need to analyze that statement. And our intentions. Let's actually simplify by making some social media rules that would make me feel like it's not a freaking hell of self indulgent running:<br /><br />RULES, beginning as one might expect with #2. Yes, I said #2:<br /><br />2. You're so awesome to be sponsored! Oh you're so great.... but we don't need to hear about it everyfreakingdayc'mon. Seriously, you could be the best in the world and if you keep posting selfies of you and your greatest love-bomb partner/sponsor we are going to start hating you one post at a time until we have to cover our eyes to the blinding obnoxious promotion. Ok, we understand... I UNDERSTAND that we make a living off of partnerships, well some of us, and I do admittably. But I don't plan to rub that in your 9-5 ass. Got it? Get it? Good! Pass on to those that don't #ambassadorks<br /><br />1. Back to #1 --- YO. That's you baybay! It's simple, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all. I just said this to my 11 and 8yr olds and they admitted "that's what grandma says" and they stopped being rude to each other, it was amazing honestly. Listen to your G-Ma! As long as she isn't a bigot.<br /><br />3. If you're a woman expect people to friend you just because they are interested in you romantically and expect to loose those people if you get in a relationship. Not that those people would ever do anything to actually connect with you in person, but they expect you to be single to give you their praise. Forget about them. You are important, man or woman, regardless of your sexual appeal and/or sexuality. At least you are on this freaking #rainbowblog.<br /><br />4. Facebook is the media giant. Twitter is about simplicity and being funny but concise. If you are a talker you won't get twitter. Just stay away. The other programs are on their way, try them and let me know what you think. If you Linktn (linkten? linktin? Not sure how it's spelled???) me, just know that I don't really do anything there, ie: I probably won't accept your anything and it's not because you're not awesome but rather it's because we all only have so much time for the computer and I'm sure as hell not going to be there!<br /><br />5. Consider "unfollowing" vs. "unfriending" unless you really really want to cut ties 'cause that kind of social media breakup is major and they will probably find out. Sooooo .... yeah....<br /><br />6. Social media isn't about making YOU feel better. It's about making "them" feel included and cared about. Well, that is if you care about anyone other than yourself. I would suggest y'all at least make it feel like you do.<br /><br />7. Back to #ambassadorks: ok here's the thing, you are the only one who cares who gives you free shit so think of a cool way to include your free shit sponsors without killing our running highs. Thank you in advance for not posting you biting metals/gels/bars or posting solely about a company who pays you money to post. Zzzzzzzz We won't buy it ever. So stop now.<br /><br />8. I was napping did I miss something? Oh yeah! Remember that life is more important that anything online. Make a priority of being a real in-person human!<br /><br />9. Read 0-8.<br /><br />10. Read 0-9.<br /><br />11. That's it! Cheers! Love and hearts and emojis and shit. Shit too yeah! XO<br /><br /><div class="p1" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Want More?</span></b></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Facebook Page</span></a></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail"><span style="font-size: x-small;">YouTube Channel</span></a></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Instagram</span></a></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Twitter</span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Google+</span></a></span></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-79784142511138088912016-03-10T10:30:00.001-08:002016-04-11T11:09:09.695-07:002016 HURT 100 Race Recap<b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">HURT 100 Endurance Run&nbsp;</b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UpSuNiPUFUo/VuG2ft41m3I/AAAAAAAAJoc/7nwt4_VB8XU/s1600/12487142_10208659691752989_25248541403585935_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UpSuNiPUFUo/VuG2ft41m3I/AAAAAAAAJoc/7nwt4_VB8XU/s400/12487142_10208659691752989_25248541403585935_o.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Pascal Kalani</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The <a href="http://www.hurt100trailrace.com/" target="_blank">HURT 100</a> in Hawaii is a 100 mile race considered to be one of the toughest and certainly one of the most technical in the USA with heat, intense humidity, endless roots, scaling slippery rocks, steep climbs and descents that sometimes require use of ropes. It is as mentally tough as it is physically strenuous and is set up as five 20 mile "loops", the loops having several out and backs to the aid stations. In the two months leading up to HURT I did a daily routine of body weight strength exercises and yoga but was unable to get my milage over 30-40 miles a week, unusually low for me. Because of this, I decided my race strategy would be to start conservatively and pick off runners throughout the day and the long 14 hr night in the jungle.<br /><br />I was experienced enough at this race (it was my fourth time running it) to know that most runners would go out hard for the first couple of 20 mile loops and then slow down drastically. By the end of the first loop I was somewhere in 6th place for the women. On the second loop, between mile 20-28, the magic of having patience and pacing myself catapulted me into 2nd place as I passed four women by running almost the same pace as I had for the first loop. I used my experience breathing through strenuous yoga poses to stay confident, keep my heart rate low and maintain a calm and strong energy. I held onto 2nd place for the rest of the race drawing my lead to over an hour ahead of 3rd place to finish this year's HURT 100. Even more satisfying than a finish was receiving a Hawaiian Ultra Running Team Shirt at the award ceremony, an honor bestowed upon only a few out of state runners each year and reminding me that the supportive and inclusive community is why I run ultra marathons.<br /><br />I'd like to thank Ultimate Direction and Altra Running from their support. I used the <a href="https://ultimatedirection.com/?avad=161011_bac91f2d&amp;utm_source=www.wilddefined.com&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=avantlink&amp;cid=aff_www.wilddefined.com" target="_blank">Ultimate Direction</a> <a href="https://ultimatedirection.com/groove-stereo-with-bottles/#reviews" target="_blank">groove series</a> new waist packs with the body bottles and the <a href="http://blog.altrazerodrop.com/elite-athletes/candice-burt/" target="_blank">Altra</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/men/superior-20" target="_blank">Superior 2.0 and Altra Lone Peak 2.5</a> for the race.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZpp-0b4stk/VuG3L413ukI/AAAAAAAAJoo/qroeWW9kqAg/s1600/12491884_10208523514515532_4409628830823117794_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZpp-0b4stk/VuG3L413ukI/AAAAAAAAJoo/qroeWW9kqAg/s320/12491884_10208523514515532_4409628830823117794_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top 3 men and women at HURT 100, 2016. Photo by George Plomarity<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="p1" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Want More?</span></b></span></div><div class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Facebook Page</span></a></span></div><div class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail"><span style="font-size: x-small;">YouTube Channel</span></a></span></div><div class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span class="s2"><a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Instagram</span></a></span></div><div class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Twitter</span></a></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"></div><div class="p2" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Google+</span></a></span></div></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-677316958343868762016-02-04T12:56:00.002-08:002016-02-04T13:06:24.154-08:00RIP Stephen Jones, Adventurer & Pioneer of 200s <div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vCPDGIzXfjs/VrO1DJeGIOI/AAAAAAAAJj0/sv-kPIESvfo/s1600/DSC_6112-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vCPDGIzXfjs/VrO1DJeGIOI/AAAAAAAAJj0/sv-kPIESvfo/s320/DSC_6112-3.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve finishing the 2015 Tahoe 200, Credit: Howie Stern</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px;">I knew Stephen from being an entrant and finisher in my 200 mile races. Through those races, I got to know him very well. Stephen was the type of person who would tell you his opinion straight up, no sugar coating, which I love because that's how I am too. He loved to make new friends and share his passion for the trails. Right away when I unveiled the first single loop 200, the Tahoe 200, Stephen came on my radar. He was excited about the race and he let me know through messages and social media comments. I was, at the time, a relatively unknown race director and organizing a race of this magnitude was unheard of. "Who was this girl who thought she could put on a 200 mile race? She hasn't even organized a 100!" Was a common sentiment from the ultra running community and naysayers. And to some degree they were right to question my abilities, I would have done the same.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQrVRRgngUQ/VrO1dLt2QGI/AAAAAAAAJj4/VCUqXU9QiB8/s1600/12644942_10209074683770298_2215372157646036020_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rQrVRRgngUQ/VrO1dLt2QGI/AAAAAAAAJj4/VCUqXU9QiB8/s320/12644942_10209074683770298_2215372157646036020_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me greeting Stephen at the finish of the 2015 Bigfoot 200, photo: Adrienne Binh</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px;">Those sentiments were common at that time, but despite my lack of credentials, we had a full race that first year. The race went off without any major hitches and we received lots of positive accolades. Throughout the entire year, Stephen was a supporter of the race. After the race, I remember thanking Stephen for his support and for believing in the race, in me as a director. Without adventurous runners like him, my dream of a race that would be on trail and would circumnavigate the entirety of Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in the USA, would never have been able to come to fruition. After I thanked him, he said, "I did my research. I saw that you were a good ultra runner, than you had run 100 mile races, had won some and that you had done unsupported long routes in the mountains. I knew that you worked as a race director at the time. Yes, it took some faith but I had a good feeling about it." He told me that he would do any 200 that I organized because he loved the vision, and I sure hope he knew that he was a key part of that vision, and always will be.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6GnBzNmqEAM/VrO3Fq92eMI/AAAAAAAAJkI/pryz0wPpoAE/s1600/10659437_292263987645367_7027986522928713780_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6GnBzNmqEAM/VrO3Fq92eMI/AAAAAAAAJkI/pryz0wPpoAE/s400/10659437_292263987645367_7027986522928713780_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing the first Tahoe 200, 2014. Photo: Jerry Gamez</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px;">As many of you have heard, Stephen died in an avalanche Sunday, Jan. 31. His death was unexpected, shocking, and devastating to everyone who knew him. Not everyone can make a lasting impact on so many around them but Stephen sure did. I wanted to share some of the stories I have of him, they all involve running 200s, one of his passions. Please consider donating to the memorial fund for Stephen's wife and children. He has young two school age children and although your donation can't take away the immense grief the family is experiencing, it can help ease their transition during this painful time. <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/StephenJones50?utm_source=internal&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=body_photo&amp;utm_campaign=upd_n" target="_blank">Donate here</a></div><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px;">Here are some of my stories, I hope you enjoy them.</div><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px;"><b><u>Tradition at 200s: Beer for the Race Director, Tahoe 200, 2014</u></b></div><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px;">The first year of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tahoe200.com/" target="_blank">Tahoe 200 Mile Endurance Run</a>&nbsp;Stephen had been one of the especially excited runners and a few weeks before the event he commented on our Facebook forum for the race that for good luck the runners should bring me (the race director) a 6-pack of local beer. On race check in day, the day before the runners were to line up to run 200 miles, Stephen came up to me with a 6 pack of beer from Utah. He said it was his good luck offering for the race and insisted that it would bring him, and any other runner that brought me beer, good luck in finishing the race.</div><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">It sure seemed to work for him, he finished all 3 of my 200s, the inaugural Tahoe 200 in 2014, the inaugural Bigfoot 200 in 2015 and the 2nd Tahoe 200 in 2015. For each race he made sure the runners knew that they should give me beer for good luck, and the day before the race he presented me with beer from Utah. He knew how much I loved craft beer and I think he knew the management would need it after the event to reduce stress levels.&nbsp;I sure loved getting that free beer and it became a tradition for runners to bring me a six pack pre race, an offering for the hard work I'd put into organizing and a good luck charm.&nbsp;</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bfxz-eO0i6E/VrO3GFJS6lI/AAAAAAAAJkM/mvvIhVlqAPU/s1600/11201106_436810203190744_6434810410435454791_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bfxz-eO0i6E/VrO3GFJS6lI/AAAAAAAAJkM/mvvIhVlqAPU/s320/11201106_436810203190744_6434810410435454791_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New year, new rules. 2015</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><b><u>More Beer Stores - Beer solves hyponatremia - Bigfoot 200, 2015</u></b></div><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">I was on course during the 2015 Bigfoot 200 checking on the aid stations, it was day 3 of the 4 day race when I saw Stephen coming into an aid station. He was animated and excited to see me and he told me about how on day 2 of the Bigfoot 200 he had suffered with dangerously bad hyponatremia. He didn't know it at the time and he felt so awful that he planned to drop out of the race, something that for him was almost inconceivable so I knew it must have been bad! He came into an aid station where one of our medical workers was on duty from the Ultra Medical Team. As the story goes, he was told to have a beer to treat his symptoms. Lo and behold, that beer completely solved his electrolyte issues and he continued on to finish his second 200 mile race. He was so impressed by how quickly the beer worked that I heard him tell that story about 10 times after the race. Knowing him, he was still telling that story up until his death. He loved to help other runners out.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0eHiE4BN1es/VrO3aEznNmI/AAAAAAAAJkk/askNIVu4YQ4/s1600/DSC_4039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0eHiE4BN1es/VrO3aEznNmI/AAAAAAAAJkk/askNIVu4YQ4/s640/DSC_4039.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015 inaugural Bigfoot 200, about to finish after 90+ hours. Photo: Howie Stern</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><b><u>Mocha time!</u></b></div><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><span style="line-height: 15.456px;">At the inaugural Bigfoot 200 I greeted all the runners at the finish line. As Stephen rounded the last turn of the track (runners finished 3/4 mile on a track) you could see a smile on his face, one that mixed all the emotions one feels during a 200 and the sweet relief of being home. We hugged at the finish and he immediately told me that the Bigfoot 200 was by far the most difficult of the 200s and about how glad he was that there was an espresso stand in Randle en route to finishing the race. He had brought cash or a card with him the entire race and that last mile was the only place where he was back in civilization and could actually use the money. He said that mocha got him that last 1 mile to the finish. He was right too, the Bigfoot course is so remote that you don't go by a single home or business until the last 10 miles of the race.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><b><u>Why He runs 200s</u></b></div><div style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">Lastly, I love this post that Stephen made about why he does 200s. He always planned to run Tahoe 200 every year, said that it was special to him. I believe your first race of a certain distance does hold that mystique:&nbsp;</div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 12.864px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">"For me, it [the Tahoe 200] wasn't about the suffering, or&nbsp;even the beauty of course, although the course was very beautiful. While it was rewarding to finish something so big, even that feeling of accomplishment was not what made the race so special. It was witnessing the triumphs of other runners.</div><div style="color: #666666; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 12.864px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Like the runner whose heels were raw from blisters at mile 40, who was used to finishing on the podium, refusing to give up and ultimately finishing near the last. Most people would have dropped a 100-miler if their heels looked like that at mile 40. 60 miles is a long way to suffer on raw heels. But ONE HUNDRED and 60 miles. I was in awe and humbled.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Or the runner at mile 153 who said to her pacer, "I'm done. I can't go on. I'm proud of what I've done. I'm proud of the 153 miles I've done, but I can't go on." Normally, I would have told any runner to suck it up, quit whining, and get out and finish it. But not this time. I could feel the emotion in her voice, I knew how she felt, because I was close to feeling the same way, so I left the aid station feeling so sad for her to have come so far. Seeing her come into the next aid station at mile 170 was one of the best moments I've had running.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em;">Yes, you're a participant, but you're also a spectator, and you get to watch it unfold from a perspective that nobody else has."</div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aJpdAu5jlb0/VrO3GZVqI2I/AAAAAAAAJkQ/eBNdfKh0ghQ/s1600/11838990_736322139826915_4688013583805095017_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aJpdAu5jlb0/VrO3GZVqI2I/AAAAAAAAJkQ/eBNdfKh0ghQ/s400/11838990_736322139826915_4688013583805095017_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earning the finisher buckle, Bigfoot 200. Photo: Jerry Gamez</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="gmail_extra"><u><b>In moving forward</b></u><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">With the loss of one of Stephen, I've been thinking a lot about how to memorialize his impact on 200s, especially the Tahoe 200, which was near and dear to his heart. I've decided to rename the last aid station at mile 190.6 in his honor. Rideout Aid Station will now be called "Stephen Jones Aid Station". From here, runners will have just 9.4 miles to the finish, and I have a feeling that won't be any ordinary 9.4 miles. We are looking for volunteers for that station, so if you'd like to help, please email us at volunteer@tahoe200.com</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><b><u>Another 200 miler?&nbsp;</u></b></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">Short answer, yes. Long answer: Stephen dreamed of having a 200 miler in Utah. He believed his state would be able to host the most scenic one of all and he contacted me with a course that he thought was doable. I am looking into the route and its&nbsp;plausibility. 200s are complicated for many reasons and permitting is a big&nbsp;one. For now I plan to research and run the route. I have done the impossible in organizing these races in the months, when it takes others years so I know I can do it. This project is on my front burner and I hope to get started on it this spring. As many of you know, the demand for 2's is still relatively low and the cost of organizing is sky high. We will find a way, we always do! Stay tuned for this one.&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: &quot;helvetica&quot; , &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i>&nbsp;RIP my friend and fellow adventurer, you are missed</i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="p1" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Want More?</span></b></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Facebook Page</span></a></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail"><span style="font-size: x-small;">YouTube Channel</span></a></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Instagram</span></a></span></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Twitter</span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Google+</span></a></span></div></div></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-10065462109532920582015-11-12T20:05:00.003-08:002015-11-12T22:00:43.855-08:00Official Bigfoot 200 Mile Endurance Run Race TrailerAs the weather turns cold, wet and snowy in the Pacific Northwest, we can sit back and enjoy this new trailer for the Bigfoot 200! Happy trails!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/duegZKZEwQA" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Want More?</b></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice">Facebook Page</a></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail">YouTube Channel</a></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s2"><a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun">Instagram</a></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s2"><a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice">Twitter</a></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s2"><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts">Google+</a></span></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-60693898239047758042015-11-11T15:11:00.003-08:002015-11-11T16:02:09.766-08:00Why 200 mile Athletes Do Not Quit <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhwctytDT9E/VkPLz2zKxYI/AAAAAAAAJN8/e9_UisHTqWY/s1600/bf63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhwctytDT9E/VkPLz2zKxYI/AAAAAAAAJN8/e9_UisHTqWY/s400/bf63.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koichi Takeshi is greeted enthusiastically at the finish of the 2015 Bigfoot 200. His 2nd Destination Trail<br />200miler, he has the notoriety of being the last finisher (making the final cut off time by just 4 seconds!) of<br />the inaugural Tahoe 200 (2014). Photo by Howie Stern.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>Here I attempt to answer the question that so many ask when they hear how high our finish rates are as well as going in depth into why I think some races have low finish rates. First I will explain why I think we have a high finish rate. Second, I will explain what I feel are the common causes of a low finish rate in ultra marathons.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JR9SMhs-Uew/VkPL0UqHf2I/AAAAAAAAJOs/uugP4zUD8_k/s1600/bf66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JR9SMhs-Uew/VkPL0UqHf2I/AAAAAAAAJOs/uugP4zUD8_k/s400/bf66.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kerry Winston Ward insisted we do a yoga pose at the finish of the<br />2015&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">BF200.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">That's after running 203.8 miles.&nbsp;</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvUYy-AK0NY/VkPI2_evu3I/AAAAAAAAJLs/Qil6LreAX0M/s1600/bf42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvUYy-AK0NY/VkPI2_evu3I/AAAAAAAAJLs/Qil6LreAX0M/s320/bf42.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">200 mile runners bond during the year through social media and then<br />on their long journey during the race. When you feel connected, you<br />have more fun and are less likely to quit. Photo by Howie Stern</td></tr></tbody></table>Are 200s harder than 100s? This is impossible to say for sure, but my experience is that 200s are harder. There are more variables and more things that can go wrong. Like any distance when compared in toughness to another distance - it really depends on the athlete's approach to the race, preparation and abilities in regards to said race, and less about the race itself, assuming the event is well organized. That being said, some races have obvious and gaping problems that will create artificially low finish rates despite athlete's preparations.<br /><br /><b>Why do <a href="http://www.destinationtrailrun.com/" target="_blank">Destination Trail​</a> 200 milers have such a high finish rate? </b>We have a 77% finisher rate for <a href="http://www.bigfoot200.com/" target="_blank">Bigfoot 200 Endurance Run</a>​ and an 85% finisher rate for the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tahoe200.com/" target="_blank">Tahoe 200 Mile Endurance Run</a>​.<br /><br /><b>1. Commitment: </b>Athletes who have committed to this distance commit overall more than any other distance of shorter length. Let me explain: In general, these athletes put more into training, train longer in general, invest more money into gear, entry fees, training races, travel expenses and even coaching, in some cases than 100 mile racers.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D09c8PwagaY/VkPI2qsNVjI/AAAAAAAAJLo/bJKpbnNYI8o/s1600/bf40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D09c8PwagaY/VkPI2qsNVjI/AAAAAAAAJLo/bJKpbnNYI8o/s400/bf40.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koichi Takeishi, finisher of the Bigfoot 200 2015, traveled all the way from Japan!</td></tr></tbody></table><b>2. Finishing a 200 is a Big Freaking Deal:</b>&nbsp;Many of us have finished a 100, but how many have finished a 200? 200s are still at their inception. When someone signs up for one, it's so new and epic that there is extra reason to finish, to distinguish oneself, to not let down crew/family/friends who have also invested more time and funds into the event. You have more to lose if you quit the longer the race, and more to win, if you finish.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P2DQzg1GvA0/VkPI2LHZg4I/AAAAAAAAJMA/xavNpYvBmYA/s1600/bf38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P2DQzg1GvA0/VkPI2LHZg4I/AAAAAAAAJMA/xavNpYvBmYA/s400/bf38.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geoff Quick coming down the final stretch of the Bigfoot 200, 2015 by Howie Stern</td></tr></tbody></table><b>3. A Different Kind of Athlete, the Risk Taker:</b> The kind of athlete who signs up for a 200 right now is unique even in the sport of ultra running. They are willing to put adventure ahead of competing in a more historical or commonplace ultra like Western States or another iconic race. Not to say that the runner who signs up for a 200 doesn't want to run one of these more established races, but they are willing to take a risk on a new adventure, rather than a tried and true one. So when things come up in the race as they always do, they don't easily quit, after all they have proven themselves to be bigger risk takers than other ultra runners by signing up in the first place.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xp9cH-UoWD0/VkPJAZVVRcI/AAAAAAAAJMg/1exDyF6bO78/s1600/IMG_0530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xp9cH-UoWD0/VkPJAZVVRcI/AAAAAAAAJMg/1exDyF6bO78/s400/IMG_0530.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bull Dozier running the inaugural Tahoe 200 (2014). Dozier is in the running for the<br />world record this year for the most 200 mile events completed in one year.<br />Photo by Scott Rokis.</td></tr></tbody></table><b>4. Good Race Organization &amp; Markings:</b> We have impeccable course markings (except for a few cases of vandalism), excellent aid &amp; lots of real food, amazing volunteers, and great organization. I have an entire team of people that help me organize from Logistics,to Volunteers to Communication to Medical. Details are important to us. We design the race to get as many finishers as we can by having a 28+ page runner's manual, providing all the aid we promised and having good medical support. One more thing to add: when the course is all original, no multiple loops or major out-and -backs, runners (no matter how tired &amp; sore) still want to see the rest of the course, it's that cool! When you are required to repeat parts of a course you've already done, it's much harder mentally to continue on.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-coIIo6PMVgk/VkPI1_QCd3I/AAAAAAAAJLc/kT__n3HYGKU/s1600/bf37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-coIIo6PMVgk/VkPI1_QCd3I/AAAAAAAAJLc/kT__n3HYGKU/s320/bf37.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tina Ure holds a Bigfoot finisher glass after her 3rd place finish, 2015.<br />Photo by Howie Stern</td></tr></tbody></table><b>5. Fair Cut off Times &amp; Time to Sleep:</b> When you have to rush to make cut off times, your will to finish will slowly dwindle away or you may miss a cut off time and have to drop out. The Tahoe 200 &amp; Bigfoot 200 rarely have to cut runners off. We have sleep stations. Sleeping really rejuvenates your body and mind. Sleeping is not so much an option for most runners in a 100 mile race as there just isn't as much time and rarely, if ever are their accommodations to sleep in a 100.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C0JdgesKTS4/VkPJ__XlonI/AAAAAAAAJNE/dWDTRF-rEjI/s1600/bf9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C0JdgesKTS4/VkPJ__XlonI/AAAAAAAAJNE/dWDTRF-rEjI/s400/bf9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Howie Stern</td></tr></tbody></table><b>6. Community Feel:</b>&nbsp;200 mile runners bond during the year through social media and at training races they do in preparation for the 200. Many of these athletes do multiple 200s and meet other people doing the same. During the event, many athletes end up teaming up and running large sections together (even the entire race in some cases!). This sense of community keeps runners going. When you have fun and support you are less likely to quit.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XFHFwldE42k/VkPJxdeC-xI/AAAAAAAAJM0/RsmaKB1xziQ/s1600/bf33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XFHFwldE42k/VkPJxdeC-xI/AAAAAAAAJM0/RsmaKB1xziQ/s320/bf33.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bigfoot 200, 2015, Photo: Howie Stern</td></tr></tbody></table>Now we have an idea of why some 200s have a higher than average finish rate. <b>Why do some races have such low finish rates? I'm going to go over a few of the main factors I see in low finish rates in 100 mile and longer events:</b><br /><br /><b>1. Extreme Weather: </b>Extreme hot, cold, wet, mud... any of these things can cause a low finish rate as they tend to be unexpected and difficult to train for. These factors can also make a race dangerous...fatally so. So quitting may be the best option.<br /><br /><b>2. Poor Course Markings:</b> You all know the feeling of getting off course, running a couple extra miles (or more!) and your spirit is crushed. Sure, you're running an ultra, but you didn't expect to get off course. If you are afraid markings are going to be bad later on too, you might just quit fearing that you will continue to get lost.<br /><br /><b>3. Bad&nbsp;Race Organization:</b> Serious danger can arise when a race does not provide what they said they would provide, whether it is a lack of aid stations, missing water stations, certain kind of course markings, or if the distance of the race is longer than advertised. This is unfortunately more common that one might expect. All Race Directors make mistakes, and sometimes trucks break down and aid stations cannot be delivered or other hard to control circumstances, however emergencies should happen few and far between and race's should have controls in place so that major problems are minimized.<br /><br /><b>4. Race Courses with a multi-loop layout or many out and backs:</b>&nbsp;It's easier to keep going in a race when you're excited about what is coming up, when the adventure of new terrain is there. HURT 100 is a very well organized event. They have a low finish rate I'd attribute to the brutal nature of the five 20 mile loop set up. It's mentally really tough to keep doing these loops when you know how hard they are and you have already experienced them.<br /><br /><b>5. Lack of Qualification Standards:</b> I see nothing wrong with this necessarily, but when runners have fewer experiences that match what they are coming up to in a race, they may be less prepared. This is debatable, as I see many runners who even finish my 200s that wouldn't be traditionally qualified. The difference is that I still require the "non-traditionally qualified applicants" to send me an essay explaining why they feel that they are qualified. This task in itself I'm sure weeds out many folks who aren't totally committed to the race, so it serves its purpose.<br /><br /><b>6. Tough Cut Off Times:</b> Speaks for itself. Some races have cut off times more geared for the faster runners. These races will have lower finish rates, inevitably.<br /><br /><b>* Note on DNFing, quitting, and missing cut offs:&nbsp;</b>There is a time to continue on and finish and suck it up. There is a time to quit. Either way, I respect each runner's decision to DNF. We must all follow our heart and make the best decision we can. A DNF does not mean we failed. It is a unique experience and deserves to be recognized as such. I have DNF'd my fair share of times... for good reasons and for poor ones. No judgement here. Read my humorous write up on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wilddefined.com/2015/01/10-ten-reasons-to-dnf-in-ultra-marathon.html" target="_blank">10 Reasons to DNF an Ultra Marathon</a>&nbsp;if you need a laugh.<br /><br /><b><u>Comments:</u></b> Please add what you thing helps or hinders finish rates in 100s and 200s. Do you know of any resources that document finish rates of various ultra distance events? Please comment and let me know what you think!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1uYVzQQrlHc/VkPJBX2fh0I/AAAAAAAAJMw/eOHKgCrHs44/s1600/IMG_1025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1uYVzQQrlHc/VkPJBX2fh0I/AAAAAAAAJMw/eOHKgCrHs44/s320/IMG_1025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ecstasy of the finish, celebrating with family and crew, Tahoe 200, 2014.<br />Photo Scott Rokis</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="p1"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F-98kyjZ8nA/VkPL1g6gfFI/AAAAAAAAJOU/gzVtYnKM_IY/s1600/bf71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F-98kyjZ8nA/VkPL1g6gfFI/AAAAAAAAJOU/gzVtYnKM_IY/s320/bf71.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last finisher in the BF200 this year was escorted through the finish by Bigfoot himself.<br />Photo Howie Stern</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5nd6mB7n0WE/VkPL1ZvKKaI/AAAAAAAAJOM/VRyoMyi4Obc/s1600/bf70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5nd6mB7n0WE/VkPL1ZvKKaI/AAAAAAAAJOM/VRyoMyi4Obc/s320/bf70.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo: Howie Stern</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8YcD8od1pN8/VkPL0gNnXwI/AAAAAAAAJOg/BcIlkhJEbzA/s1600/bf67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8YcD8od1pN8/VkPL0gNnXwI/AAAAAAAAJOg/BcIlkhJEbzA/s320/bf67.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckles are all handmade and each one is unique.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo: Howie Stern</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Mz_Cmy7XYI/VkPL1ZXNBHI/AAAAAAAAJOo/D0eI8xsOrIc/s1600/bf69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Mz_Cmy7XYI/VkPL1ZXNBHI/AAAAAAAAJOo/D0eI8xsOrIc/s320/bf69.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Howie Stern</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span class="s1"><b>Want More?</b></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice">Facebook Page</a></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail">YouTube Channel</a></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s2"><a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun">Instagram</a></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s2"><a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice">Twitter</a></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s2"><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts">Google+</a></span></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-60781664245834365722015-11-10T21:11:00.000-08:002015-11-10T21:40:38.624-08:00What company do you work for?I get asked this question all the time. As many of you know, I am the race director of the first two non-repetitive 200s in the US, the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_2075703400"></span>Bigfoot 200<span id="goog_2075703401"></span></a> &amp; the <a href="http://www.tahoe200.com/" target="_blank">Tahoe 200</a>. These races are such an extreme distance that many people are understandably shocked. Usually when people hear the distance, they want to know,&nbsp;<i>What company do I work for?</i>&nbsp;At first, I found this question amusing and enjoying the surprise I saw on their face when I told them, <i>"<a href="http://www.destinationtrailrun.com/" target="_blank">My own,</a>"</i> it did not bother me to be asked. As time has passed, however, the novelty of giving my answer has worn off. I wonder why people would be surprised that I would be the one to create these races? Is it that I am a girl? Or that I seem more like a trail running dirtbag than a CEO? Or is it that the distance of these races is so great that it must take an entire Board of Directors &amp; company to create and execute them?<br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IRhD1WabacI/VkLKdfYCwCI/AAAAAAAAJJg/u5Pq6sp6Qmg/s1600/randle1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IRhD1WabacI/VkLKdfYCwCI/AAAAAAAAJJg/u5Pq6sp6Qmg/s320/randle1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fastpacking the Bigfoot 200 course</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>Truth is, I've always worked for myself. I just happen to be someone who makes my own work. Part of this comes from a desire to set my own schedule, the other part comes from an inability to do anything I am not passionate about. The latter of which has caused me some pain and suffering despite its idealistic sound. Shouldn't we all aspire to only doing what we are passionate about? When you cannot tolerate doing normal, everyday kind of shit, it's hard to feel settled. When passion <i>must </i>fuel your work, it's difficult to fit in, impossible to work for anyone else, and it is hard to even do the monotonous work you need to do on daily basis.<br /><br />To illustrate how my passion fuels my work, let me explain how I created the Bigfoot 200 in less than a month. Last year (September 2014) I had never run or explored any of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest where the Bigfoot 200 is located. <i>Less than a month</i> after visiting Mt. St. Helens for the first time, I turned in a 15 page permit application for the 2015 Bigfoot 200, a point-to-point 200 mile footrace that would be the first of it's kind in the world. During that time <a href="http://www.wilddefined.com/2014/10/fastpacking-new-washingtonoregon-200.html" target="_blank">I fast packed 200 miles of the course</a> (part of which would change as the permit was finalized), <a href="http://caltopo.com/m/3H5R" target="_blank">mapped the route</a> and created a 28 page <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/144kJI9kfIPp8XP3P7pauTWXKv7DqhquM0SVxEKn8558/edit" target="_blank">Runner's Manual</a> for the event. It was a whirlwind of excitement and things moved very quickly as they do when an idea is <i>supposed</i> to become reality.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ralR343nNDQ/VkLNSIsFJ9I/AAAAAAAAJKk/60G3qPgeMwo/s1600/ma7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ralR343nNDQ/VkLNSIsFJ9I/AAAAAAAAJKk/60G3qPgeMwo/s400/ma7.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Adams, one of the many volcanos on the Bigfoot 200 course</td></tr></tbody></table>Less than a year later, my crew of organizers and I were organizing the first point to point 200 mile footrace in the USA. It was also the biggest one in 2015 with 79 runners at the start line. Amazingly, we had a 77% finish rate and 69 of those 79 runners finished. I can only thank my numerous volunteers, my volunteer &amp; logistics Coordinator, my medical team, finish line coordinator and many more key people who together created quite the <a href="http://www.bigfoot200.com/runner-reviews-of-the-2015-event.html" target="_blank">incredible, fun, and challenging event</a>. <a href="http://www.howiestern.com/2015-Running-Events/2015-Bigfoot-200-Endurance-Run" target="_blank">See photos from the event</a>.<br /><br />The Tahoe 200, a single loop that circumnavigates Lake Tahoe was also created almost identically to the Bigfoot 200: a gust of inspiration made me believe I could map out this dream race course, get permits, and pull it off. The difference with Tahoe was that I was familiar with many of those trails ahead of time, it just took a couple years to realize I could actually pull the race off. In an almost identical timeframe to the Bigfoot 200's creation I mapped the route, made the Runner's Manual, and presented the event to the world. In January of 2014 when registration for the first Tahoe 200 opened, I had almost 200 applicants. The race hosted runners from 10 countries and 28 states. It was an exciting time!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u0kvun0zIrU/VkLMWxWTPKI/AAAAAAAAJJ8/NTKXU4NNooQ/s1600/10647118_10152677288132692_6263914815316302046_n%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u0kvun0zIrU/VkLMWxWTPKI/AAAAAAAAJJ8/NTKXU4NNooQ/s400/10647118_10152677288132692_6263914815316302046_n%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last minute words of encouragement for the runners before they embarked on the inaugural Tahoe 200.</td></tr></tbody></table>When people ask me who I work for, I really should say I work for you. The person who dreams big, who wants an adventure of epic proportions, who wants to move into the extraordinary. I believe an event can do this if it's created right, if within its framework the artistry of nature and weather is highlighted, with all the support promised, more information that you'd care to ever read, and a desire by the race management to improve each year. This is what I promise to bring to the table.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I'd like to at this point to highlight some of the differences between my two 200 mile races. They are so different, it's hard to explain in a short summary, but I'll try! Oh and before I close, do stay tuned, I have many more adventures up my sleeve. Or maybe they are blowing in the wind on their way to me!</div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BIGFOOT 200</span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cIX8pmMVuo/VkLI5INdDUI/AAAAAAAAJJM/vtKLIMxXzfM/s1600/bf4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cIX8pmMVuo/VkLI5INdDUI/AAAAAAAAJJM/vtKLIMxXzfM/s400/bf4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Howie Stern Photography</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><b>Description:</b> Terrain varies considerably in this point to point adventure in the Cascade Mountains: volcano desolation zone, mountain ridges, thick canopied rainforests, exposed cliffs, cross country off trail travel, log hopping, all the while enjoying views of Washington's largest and most active volcanoes: Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier, and even Oregon's Mt. Hood. This 200 has the most climbing of any 200 miler in the USA and runs through storied Bigfoot territory.<br /><br /></div><div><b>Distance:</b> 203.8 miles<br /><br /><b>Map:</b>&nbsp;<a href="http://caltopo.com/m/3H5R">http://caltopo.com/m/3H5R</a><br /><br /></div><div><b>Dates:</b> August 12th-16th<br /><br /></div><div><b>Style:</b> Point to point<br /><br /></div><div><b>Cut off:</b> 105 hours, 4 days 9hrs<br /><br /></div><div><b>Closest City:</b> Cougar, WA and Randle, WA<br /><br /></div><div><b>Number of Entrants:</b> 150<br /><br /></div><div><b>2015 Finisher Rate:</b> 77% of runners that started the race also finished!<br /><br /></div><div><b>Elevation:</b> ~50,000 feet of ascent and 46,000 feet of descent<br /><br /></div><div><b>Terrain: </b>Single track: 184.8 miles single track, 4x4 road/dirt<br />Roads: 6 miles, Paved 13 miles&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Website:</b> <a href="http://www.bigfoot200.com/">www.Bigfoot200.com</a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">TAHOE 200</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udN9U9ZNf2w/VkLJfc6NxFI/AAAAAAAAJJU/UFI8-gejXnY/s1600/8M2A8659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udN9U9ZNf2w/VkLJfc6NxFI/AAAAAAAAJJU/UFI8-gejXnY/s400/8M2A8659.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Description:</b> The Tahoe 200 was the first non-repetitive 200 in the USA in 2014. The route circumnavigates iconic Lake Tahoe from the Tahoe Rim Trail exploring the alpine environment that makes Lake Tahoe such a world class destination. Participants will trek through rock gardens of giants, past countless sparkling alpine lakes, explore the dusty Rubicon, all the while circling the largest alpine lake in the US on trail.<br /><br /></div><div><b>Distance:</b> 202.5 miles<br /><br /><b>Map:</b>&nbsp;<a href="http://caltopo.com/m/4944">http://caltopo.com/m/4944</a><br /><br /></div><div><b>Dates: </b>Sept. 9th - 13th, 2016 (100 hour cutoff)<br /><br /></div><div><b>Style:</b> Single loop course<br /><br /></div><div><b>Closest City</b> (start location): Homewood, California<br /><br /></div><div><b>Number of Entrants:</b> 140<br /><br /></div><div><b>2015 Finisher Rate:</b> 85% of runners finished. That's higher than most 100s!<br /><br /></div><div><b>Elevation:</b> 39,800 ascent and 39,800 descent<br /><br /></div><div><b>Terrain:</b> Single track: 170 miles/ 273.6km of&nbsp;</div><div>single track (84%), Paved Road: 11 miles/17.7km&nbsp;</div><div>(5%), 4×4 dirt roads: 21 miles/33.8km (10%)<br /><br /></div><div><b>Website:</b> <a href="http://www.tahoe200.com/">www.tahoe200.com</a><br /><br /><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Want More?</b></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Facebook Page</span></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail"><span class="s2">YouTube Channel</span></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun"><span class="s2">Instagram</span></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="s2"><a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice">Twitter</a></span></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts"><span class="s2">Google+</span></a></span></div></div></div></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-15206563010244115322015-10-25T21:52:00.001-07:002015-10-26T08:07:30.015-07:00Training Journal 10/19-10/25<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KF4oPC--WQM/Vi2xjvgsIuI/AAAAAAAAJG0/O3oPV3vjGuc/s640/blogger-image-1413724003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KF4oPC--WQM/Vi2xjvgsIuI/AAAAAAAAJG0/O3oPV3vjGuc/s320/blogger-image-1413724003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><i style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-weight: normal; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Running the Klickitat Trail on Tuesday</i></span></div><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><u>Monday, October 19 - Sunday, October 25, 2015</u></b><b style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">: </b><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">This</span><b style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">&nbsp;</b><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">week I headed out to the Cascades to do some scouting on the Bigfoot 200 course and to climb Mt. Adams. In the process I got a lot of night running in, something I want to continue to do in preparation for HURT100. The trip included lots of driving, unfortunately. This week cumulated a whole 40 days of no drinking! I've had no alcohol for more than a month now and I've been feeling great as well as getting closer to race weight. Next week I'm looking forward to sticking around Bham and getting in massive amounts of yoga and getting more sleep. I've been staying up too late in general and Sunday I felt very tired most the day. Sleep is so key when I'm gearing up my training! &nbsp;</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-skJnT99qb_M/Vi2v_vArD6I/AAAAAAAAJGg/HjFHBEPW2fA/s640/blogger-image--41267973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-skJnT99qb_M/Vi2v_vArD6I/AAAAAAAAJGg/HjFHBEPW2fA/s320/blogger-image--41267973.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><i>Climbing Mt. Adams with River on Wednesday&nbsp;</i></span></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Monday</b>: 1hr yoga in West Seattle. Long drive down to Mt. Adams.</span></div><div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Tuesday</b>: 18 mi with 4300 gain &amp; 4300 loss on Klickitat 7 Trail. With a heavy pack. Tough route. Ran several hours in dark.&nbsp;</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Wednesday</b>: 15 miles, 5000 ft ascent/5000 descent. Climb up Mt Adams. Ran several hours in dark. Carried heavy pack for training.&nbsp;</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Thursday</b>: 1hr 15 min yoga. 7 mile run. 800 ft ascent in Bellingham. CU*</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Friday</b>: 1hr 15 min yoga. 1 hr bike ride, indoors. CU</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Saturday</b>: 1hr 15 min yoga AM. 3 mile run in AM N. Chuckanut. 7mile run in PM (in the dark) around Sehome Hill. 1100 ft ascent. 1 hr indoor bike. CU&nbsp;</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Sunday</b>: 15 miles in the Chuckanut Mtns with ~3000ft of climbing/3000 of descent. Legs felt very tired. 2 hr bike indoors in PM. CU</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Totals</b>:</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Running 65 miles with 14,200 ft ascent</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Yoga 4hrs 45min&nbsp;</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Indoor biking: 4hrs</div></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">*CU: Core &amp; Upper body workout focusing on push-ups, yoga sit-ups, and other core work. Usually 15min-30min</div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q1_RxVM89Hw/Vi2wBCMk0jI/AAAAAAAAJGo/4aCcnu2RlQc/s640/blogger-image--1799280723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q1_RxVM89Hw/Vi2wBCMk0jI/AAAAAAAAJGo/4aCcnu2RlQc/s320/blogger-image--1799280723.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Camping out Monday and Tuesday.&nbsp;</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); clear: both; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><i></i><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M941ld3C3pA/Vi2xlRKuizI/AAAAAAAAJG8/FUD8QWsFb5s/s640/blogger-image-647214335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M941ld3C3pA/Vi2xlRKuizI/AAAAAAAAJG8/FUD8QWsFb5s/s320/blogger-image-647214335.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carrying a large pack Tuesday and Wednesday for training.&nbsp;</span></i></i></div><i><br /></i><br /><div class="p1"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Want More?</span></b></span></div></div><div class="p1"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Facebook Page</span></a></span></span></div></div><div class="p1"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail"><span class="s2">YouTube Channel</span></a></span></span></div></div><div class="p1"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun"><span class="s2">Instagram</span></a></span></span></div></div><div class="p1"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Twitter</span></a></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts" style="font-size: small;">Google+</a></div></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-65824555885929414652015-10-18T22:07:00.001-07:002015-10-18T22:18:48.111-07:00Training Journal 10/12-10/18<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3p3GL5jzwoQ/ViR6omy7J_I/AAAAAAAAJEg/HqFw2h55JUM/s640/blogger-image--550987580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3p3GL5jzwoQ/ViR6omy7J_I/AAAAAAAAJEg/HqFw2h55JUM/s320/blogger-image--550987580.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><u>Monday Oct 12- Sunday Oct 18</u></b>:&nbsp;</span>This week began right after a massive effort to organize the Bigfoot 120mi/100k race at Mt St Helens. I am still feeling a bit exhausted from it. I only got a couple hours of sleep all weekend of Oct 10-11. I also marked the entire Bigfoot 120 course with Garrett Froelich's help the week previous, so I didn't do much running this week, instead I focused on biking and finally FINALLY got back to daily yoga classes! Getting stoked about riding the Tour Divide! Reminds me of how I felt when I first got into ultras. There's an excitement that hasn't been there for a few years for me.<br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-33wkeb1If1E/ViR6qa672FI/AAAAAAAAJEo/Td84AkHln_0/s640/blogger-image-806204401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-33wkeb1If1E/ViR6qa672FI/AAAAAAAAJEo/Td84AkHln_0/s640/blogger-image-806204401.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>**<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">CU= core/push-up, pull-up, sit-up, sometimes kettle bell session usually around 20-30 min, I do it almost daily. Usually 100 -200 push-ups, 200 bicycle sit-ups, 150 "other core", plank &amp; side plank, 10 pull ups.&nbsp;</span><br /><div><br /></div><div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Monday</b> : course sweeping for the race (ie: slow, carrying lots of weight), 21 miles, 6500 ft descent, 5600 ft climbing, 6hrs. Got to run a large portion in dark. Good training!</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Tuesday</b>: climb at Mt St Helens 10 miles, 5000 climbing, 5000 descent. Good difficult effort. Legs pretty wiped out from yesterday. Drove home second half of day. Long drive.&nbsp;</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Wednesday</b>: 1hr bike, indoors. CU</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Thursday</b> day off. Still did lots of core, push-ups, kettle bell. CU. Just still so tired from organizing the race!&nbsp;</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Friday</b> 45 min bike on road, hard effort. 1hr 15 yoga. 1hr 15 indoors on bike.</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Saturday</b>: 2 hr indoor bike session, moderate effort, 1hr 15 power yoga (felt hard). Sore from yoga on Friday. Full CU.&nbsp;</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Sunday:&nbsp;</b>1hr 30 min bike indoors easy, 1 hr 15 power yoga. CU&nbsp;</div></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><b>Totals</b></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Running: 31 miles, 11,500ft descent/ 10,600 ft ascent</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Biking: 6.5 hrs (road bike, mostly indoors)&nbsp;</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Yoga: 3hr 45min power yoga</div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-53754069016231485912015-07-18T11:55:00.000-07:002015-07-19T13:58:04.913-07:00How to go from Half Marathon to 100 Miler in 6 Months<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">"If you run at half marathon pace for 100 miles you will definitely win."</span></i>&nbsp;I said jokingly to Garrett, a 41 year old recent transplant from Lake Tahoe, California after he finished the <a href="http://www.bellinghamtrailmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Bellingham Trail Half Marathon</a> in 2nd place. I said it because he had looked so calm, comfortable and happy after his first ever trail race. Like he just had a grand time romping through the trails, not racing his guts out for 13.1 miles.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Isxl5Lq_1II/VZd3e2MdxEI/AAAAAAAAI14/d0D8oT8cLpA/s1600/GF8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Isxl5Lq_1II/VZd3e2MdxEI/AAAAAAAAI14/d0D8oT8cLpA/s320/GF8.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Garrett had surprised everyone except me by getting 2nd place that day for not being a runner and after working all week to help organize the event. He had recently started working as Race Logistics and Volunteer Coordinator for my growing Event Management company Destination Trail and with some encouragement he had agreed to run the half marathon despite being as far from a runner as one could expect of a dirtbagging-rock-climbing-skateboarder.&nbsp;</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HOt81qL7DeQ/VZd3co06A8I/AAAAAAAAI1U/WrkOvebX9mw/s1600/GF10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HOt81qL7DeQ/VZd3co06A8I/AAAAAAAAI1U/WrkOvebX9mw/s320/GF10.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Garrett center in green shirt in the Bellingham Trail Half Marathon</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Two months earlier, not long after Garrett and I first met in South Lake Tahoe, I told him that he needed to start running. I've been running for almost 18 years (8 years competitively) and I've been in the running industry for 5 years. With this&nbsp;experience&nbsp;and an intuition as sharp as the Matterhorn, I just <i>knew</i> he would be good. Maybe it was that he hadn't even broken a sweat on a run we did up the Powerline Trail on the Tahoe 200 course (1,500 feet in less than 1.5 miles) on a hot August afternoon or maybe it was his natural athleticism. He considers himself a skateboarder before anything else, "Skate or Die" etched in his self-built Honda motorcycle, and when I met him he was a rock climbing fiend whose outdoor lifestyle left him&nbsp;perennially&nbsp;fit.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bXUfZMKcE5k/VZd3cj_sfaI/AAAAAAAAI1w/Wc6OrU-XDsA/s1600/GF1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bXUfZMKcE5k/VZd3cj_sfaI/AAAAAAAAI1w/Wc6OrU-XDsA/s400/GF1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Garrett's hands were coarse like granite and he talked about thinky crimp holds, nut spots and bomber pieces. He was free soloing a bunch of climbs around Lover's Leap out of Strawberry, CA. Not knowing much about climbing I mentioned that I thought that sounded much better than having to deal with all those knots and ropes and shit. Just that spring I had taken a week long course on rock climbing in Red Rocks, Nevada and although I liked the challenge of climbing, all the safety precautions, knots, and equipment of climbing was overwhelming. I think he had expected me to chastise him like everyone else, but I didn't see anything wrong with courting a little danger.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I've never been one to shy away from what I want to do,&nbsp;consequences be damned. Because of my&nbsp;spontaneity&nbsp;and&nbsp;stubbornness, I've suffered from time to time&nbsp;when it comes to reaching my goals. I've even&nbsp;overestimated&nbsp;my abilities in the outdoors, but these traits have also paid off in ways that would have never been possible had I given into my fears instead of my passions. Danger be fucked. But trail running "danger" is a lot tamer than free solo climbing danger. That much was clear from my brief encounters with rock climbing.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mpLZ62FGo3Y/VZd3dBYvi7I/AAAAAAAAI1Y/TX8IClveHZs/s1600/GF2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mpLZ62FGo3Y/VZd3dBYvi7I/AAAAAAAAI1Y/TX8IClveHZs/s400/GF2.jpg" width="326" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Credit Chris Edmonds</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Garrett was no stranger to living his passions either. He had spent the last 10+ years in and near Lake Tahoe to feed his need to be outdoors, always exploring and playing. Winters were at ski resorts managing the building of world class snowboard parks while other parks tried to recruit him, smoking weed and backcountry snowboarding with his furry wolf-dog Marvin. Marvin is an unidentifiable mutt so handsome that strangers often exclaim loudly and ask his breed upon meeting him. Usually to their dismay, when they hear he is a mutt. There's no replicating the MarvDog.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UPaO0vmUTKs/VZnVlOBJtUI/AAAAAAAAI8Y/B887IKKyh1Y/s1600/marvdog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UPaO0vmUTKs/VZnVlOBJtUI/AAAAAAAAI8Y/B887IKKyh1Y/s320/marvdog2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">MarvDog has an affinity for large sticks. Credit Ashley Hutchinson</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For Garrett, summers were spent in a dirtbag RV, the American Clipper, parked on a remote forest service road with killer access to climbing. This meant occasionally being kicked out of the forest "for the rest of the year" for overstaying his welcome. Forest Service&nbsp;regulations&nbsp;in California only&nbsp;allow for 14 continuous days in national forests. No matter, his quiet and kind demeanor meant that it was easy for him to make friends and he was able to park the Clipper in Strawberry, a few short miles to world class climbing, part of his summer&nbsp;commute&nbsp;being accomplished on a green cruiser bike.&nbsp;</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RoNhUGPf_SQ/VZnVkBwfN4I/AAAAAAAAI8E/HMqxUCtniHw/s1600/Garrett%2Bskateboarding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RoNhUGPf_SQ/VZnVkBwfN4I/AAAAAAAAI8E/HMqxUCtniHw/s320/Garrett%2Bskateboarding.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Credit Jason Hogan</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When he wasn't on Lover's Leap climbing in cut off jeans and a red bandana, he was in South Lake Tahoe. Time in South Lake meant skateboarding, once every 2 week shower and laundry trip, and frustration at the endless road construction that is Tahoe in the summer.&nbsp;In those moments of waiting in the city to get back to his beloved rocks, he could most definitely feel his life slipping away as construction waged on and time in the outdoors was cut short by others' need to travel from one casino to another.&nbsp;</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rrHPJp1wONY/VZd3dehtBLI/AAAAAAAAI1o/JVFQrHyavUA/s1600/GF3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rrHPJp1wONY/VZd3dehtBLI/AAAAAAAAI1o/JVFQrHyavUA/s400/GF3.jpg" width="257" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Credit Jason Hogan</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Garrett Froelich, address: Strawberry, California. Summer in Tahoe backcountry far from bustling South Lake, meant shooting cans in his underwear, crashing weddings at the Strawberry Lodge as the week’s major social activity, and drinking IPA of a quality that a beer snob would heartily approve. He was a fucking&nbsp;anomaly. You couldn’t quite stereotype him as anything.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He certainly&nbsp;wasn’t a jock, he just didn't care enough about competition or what others thought of him. Yet he was too talented physically and committed to honing his skills on rock, snow, and concrete to be a true slacker or bum. He was too humble to give a shit about sponsors or fame. Who was this man who didn’t care that grown ups were supposed to work toward a degree, get a 9-5, own a home, get married, have a family ... to settle for the American Dream? It was possible this anomaly of a man might actually be crazy enough to pull off a 100 miler with no real training.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fJUZoxZQd0Y/VZd6xIlXjJI/AAAAAAAAI6k/sWRu_4_tX10/s1600/GF15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fJUZoxZQd0Y/VZd6xIlXjJI/AAAAAAAAI6k/sWRu_4_tX10/s400/GF15.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Credit Ashley Hutchinson</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">How does one go from racing a half marathon to a 100 in 6 months? There must have been a special kind of potion mixed in that moment that I teased Garrett about racing a 100 at half marathon pace that stirred his emotions and excited him. I'm pretty sure one of the ingredients of that potion was helping put on the first ever single loop 200 miler in the USA, the <a href="http://www.tahoe200.com/" target="_blank">Tahoe 200</a>, just a few months earlier. The Tahoe 200 was my debut 200 mile event and it was my opus. I'd travelled from Washington to Tahoe a month early for organizing the event. I was there to put everything I had into what I saw as the beginning of a race that would become an icon in the industry. The Tahoe 200 was everything to me and having Garrett's help had been integral that first year.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Surely the tremendous accomplishments Garrett witnessed at the Tahoe 200 by the athletes as they&nbsp;circumnavigated&nbsp;the largest alpine lake in the USA had affected him and influenced him to do a 100. The Tahoe 200, combined with the glorious&nbsp;feeling of crushing your first ever trail race as a rock climber/skater were likely key factors in his decision to take on such a massive challenge. Whatever it was, and however many ingredients went into it, Garrett had clearly fallen for the intoxicating allure of the 100 mile foot race. A race so long it was guaranteed to be epic.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BybcvrefPTo/VZnVjdeFIVI/AAAAAAAAI7s/ljYlPYT2ZsQ/s1600/G-Man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BybcvrefPTo/VZnVjdeFIVI/AAAAAAAAI7s/ljYlPYT2ZsQ/s400/G-Man.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Course marking for the Tahoe 200 in September</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Six short months after that successful Half Marathon debut, I am at the Grand Canyon to crew and pace Garrett for his first 100 mile run. I’m giving him a 70% chance of finishing, but I don't tell him that. I am on his side, I'm just not totally convinced he can pull it off. I acted as an unofficial coach the past 6 as he watched me train, race, and recover from three 100s. He would occasionally join me for a run and more often than not he was at Mt. Baker backcountry snowboarding, skateboarding in town or working for me organizing races in the <a href="http://www.bellinghamtrail.com/" target="_blank">Bellingham Trail Running Series</a>.&nbsp;</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vbb81R_fL5k/VZnVkrDWYGI/AAAAAAAAI8I/NQ6Al_iMdn0/s1600/Marvdog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vbb81R_fL5k/VZnVkrDWYGI/AAAAAAAAI8I/NQ6Al_iMdn0/s320/Marvdog3.jpg" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Best friends, MarvDog and Garrett. Credit Ashley Hutchinson</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In usual Garrett fashion, he hadn't bothered to follow a&nbsp;training&nbsp;plan or worry about his&nbsp;fitness&nbsp;leading up to the race. The longest training run he completed was in March. During one of our local Bellingham Trail Running Club’s Pine and Cedar Hill Repeat days he logged his longest run to date and finally became an ultra runner. He had completed 9 repeats on the steepest hill in town: 36 miles with 14,000ft ft climbing, enough to log the most repeats&nbsp;<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">that day. It was a solid effort, but not a particularly long training run for a 100 mile race. I was scared for him and he was a mixture of nervous excitement, too naïve to know better, and scared shitless.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JxQPBRfog08/VZd4DsagzkI/AAAAAAAAI20/unnP0rcVrIM/s1600/GC1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JxQPBRfog08/VZd4DsagzkI/AAAAAAAAI20/unnP0rcVrIM/s640/GC1.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The day before Garrett's first 100, checking out the views on the course.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The <a href="http://www.grandcircletrails.com/grand-canyon-general-info/" target="_blank">Grand Canyon 100</a> was one of Matt Gunn’s soon-to-be Southwest classics that blended old school cool with intensely beautiful terrain. Gunn's&nbsp;finisher buckles for his events are handmade in Utah with resin and plants from the course and pre race often consists of local cuisine and guests telling stories of about the area’s history. Matt is part of a small group of race directors that are artists more than businessmen/women.&nbsp;</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-969Kff3lg9o/VZd4YYD9CkI/AAAAAAAAI34/J_EOZxZm-WA/s1600/GC20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-969Kff3lg9o/VZd4YYD9CkI/AAAAAAAAI34/J_EOZxZm-WA/s400/GC20.JPG" width="220" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Matt Gunn, center, directs volunteers for the Grand Canyon Ultras</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Matt is handsome in a mountain man kind of way with his Carhart overalls, wild red beard and trucker hats. He has a gentle, humble way about him that is instantly enduring even after you go off course 2 miles due to confusing markers while in 1<sup>st</sup> place during one of his races (yes that happened at me at the Zion 100 in 2014). He is more comfortable exploring in the outdoors than giving a pre race speech, yet here he is putting on another race and like any great artist, the message, the <i>artform,</i> becomes too great to not share it. Gunn's races seem to be his way of sharing his gift for exploring and love for the outdoors.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4tUCvUo_uac/VZd4Wi72qCI/AAAAAAAAI3o/yF9bEjQuHk8/s1600/GC18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4tUCvUo_uac/VZd4Wi72qCI/AAAAAAAAI3o/yF9bEjQuHk8/s400/GC18.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Just 2 days before the race it snowed. Who would’ve known it would freaking-snow-6-inches before the May 16-17 Grand Canyon 100?! This is Arizona after all and although it’s at moderately high elevation (6,000-9,000ft), it is May. <i>Last year it was 80F</i>, one man said as we joked about 100s being a big enough challenge without <i>6 fuckin inches of snow dude</i>. I told him I was crewing/pacing my friend who was going from half marathon to 100. We laughed at the absurdity of that… all buried in snow as it was. Damn <i>h</i><i>ilarious</i>, but seriously, he asked, <i>what is his chance of finishing?</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G1R9xn67bug/VZd4nbHV_YI/AAAAAAAAI6I/ChjqtUj8feI/s1600/GC9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G1R9xn67bug/VZd4nbHV_YI/AAAAAAAAI6I/ChjqtUj8feI/s320/GC9.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was a statement more than a question, and I smiled and thought, </span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">H</i><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is chances are pretty damn good, it’s that anomaly shit. You’re gonna think you’ve pegged him because he must be a naïve idiot or experiment gone wrong, but in reality he had you the whole time</i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. It’s the same reason he wears cut off jeans while free soloing past roped up climbers like they are standing still and shoots his&nbsp;deceased&nbsp;dad's gun in the backcountry in underpants with&nbsp;IPA in a coozy. I was thinking he might have an 80% chance based on that imagery alone. Who knows what's in his heart? A good dose of passion perhaps? Maybe enough passion to get that finish.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fjkqTJj_45o/VZd367RyiiI/AAAAAAAAI2g/3ZRxZEppJ9M/s1600/GC10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fjkqTJj_45o/VZd367RyiiI/AAAAAAAAI2g/3ZRxZEppJ9M/s320/GC10.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Had he trained for the race I’d be pondering whether or not he would win instead of the&nbsp;probability&nbsp;of&nbsp;him finishing. I’ve raced enough 100s to know that experience trumps both unpreparedness and inexperience. Every single time. That's why Karl Meltzer with 35+ 100 mile wins under his belt passed every young gun in the Run Rabbit Run 100 on his way to winning the staggering $10,000 prize purse a couple years ago. You can be fast, but can you pace yourself? Can you be patient? Can you play the game of training smart, tapering just right, hydration, nutrition, pacing, and the biggest piece of the puzzle: mental toughness? Garrett&nbsp;still had so much to learn. Badassery was on his side but not experience. That's why it was good he had me as his crew. I was prepared to let him know that all those painful experiences during his first hundo are normal and to stop being a pussy. Although I doubted he would need me to call him a pussy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xeM9ezgbY1w/VZd3_QrdB4I/AAAAAAAAI2o/l4NIH8Ewsxs/s1600/GC11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xeM9ezgbY1w/VZd3_QrdB4I/AAAAAAAAI2o/l4NIH8Ewsxs/s400/GC11.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>The race started in the mud and snow with hand rubbing and too many layers and for once I wasn’t jealous of the runners, I was happy to be sitting this cold, wet one out. Brave fuckin souls. Or stupid? Or crazy? Eh, it could’ve been me at that start line, or me looking in a mirror. No matter which it was, I was certainly one f the crazies, whether I ran or crewed. It was time to drive out one of the long Forest Service roads in the snow to meet my runner, fingers crossed the aid stations would be accesable with all the new snow.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2AvfZ2QsrJU/VZd4UAF6_iI/AAAAAAAAI3Q/QtdX6A9InhU/s1600/GC14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2AvfZ2QsrJU/VZd4UAF6_iI/AAAAAAAAI3Q/QtdX6A9InhU/s400/GC14.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>Glad to have 4-wheel drive, I rallied through the deep mud lakes and snow that the forest service roads had become. The day went by quickly with Garrett running smart, making it look easy in the top five or so runners smiling all the while. I heated him some soup at mile 15 when the aid station never showed up and he took it all in stride. It didn’t bother him in the least that the aids station wasn't there, after all he hadn't even known what to put in a drop bag, I think for him, no aid station was like seeing a log over the trail and using it to get some air. Many of the other runners weren't so chill and I could see the lack of an aid station (even when they had crew) taking a toll on them mentally.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_HflG-sZNwg/VZd4bOEgO4I/AAAAAAAAI40/8kwQRBOOX3w/s1600/GC23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_HflG-sZNwg/VZd4bOEgO4I/AAAAAAAAI40/8kwQRBOOX3w/s320/GC23.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>Then, like in all good ultras, everything went to shit. Somewhere around mile 55 I could see the fatigue hit him. He was still strong but there was a vulnerability that hadn’t been there before a strain in the eyes and a stiffness of gait. On an out-and-back he slowed noticeably and a runner passed him. <i>Here comes that lack of training</i> I thought, but he kept trucking. Despite an injured Achilles from running the Ultra Fiord in Patagonia, I was set to pace him from mile 80 to the finish and even with a slightly slowed pace, it was looking like he would make it. I saw that finish in him and it just became a question of how long would it take?<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vzjKWJyWdB4/VZd4f4c4vzI/AAAAAAAAI5U/sizY2qHGTcc/s1600/GC30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vzjKWJyWdB4/VZd4f4c4vzI/AAAAAAAAI5U/sizY2qHGTcc/s400/GC30.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mile 80 and I'm ready to pace: I’m chatting with DJ, a new-ish ultra runner who is signed up for one of my races, the Bigfoot 200 in August. He is the aid station captain at mile&nbsp;80 as well as the only aid station worker at that location. He can clearly get shit done being a one-man crew and I think that his chances for finishing the Bigfoot 200 are good. I am impressed by his&nbsp;commitment&nbsp;to health and pushing boundaries of what is possible in ultras, racing&nbsp;200s, he'd recently hired a coach, changed his lifestyle for more healthy options and his race finish times had improved drastically the past 6 months. A story that was rather common in ultra running circles. To get through 100+ miles, you have to know how to slay some dragons.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTuMycS69g8/VZd4ceoPkzI/AAAAAAAAI4w/sFdFPoLXFlA/s1600/GC27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PTuMycS69g8/VZd4ceoPkzI/AAAAAAAAI4w/sFdFPoLXFlA/s320/GC27.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pacing duties</td></tr></tbody></table></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Garrett came into mile 80 looking better than he had at 15 miles earlier and ahead of two men that had passed him earlier but his fatigue was palpable. I'd been worried about his foot which had become quite painful, but he made no mention of it, so neither did I. We started out no the trail, making good time to the next aid. A few miles down the trail, he slowed again, the stiffness in his legs was catching up with him and I reminded him to keep eating, that would help of the extreme fatigue. At the next aid station he plopped into a chair and I warned him that if he wasn't eating we were leaving as I handed him a cup of soup and a coke. He obliged, although not happily. It was just after this aid station as he hobbled out, his legs like glass after having sat for 10 minutes, that he finally doubted himself.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">"What if I can't make it?" he asked just 20 feet down the trail from the last aid.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"You will," I said. I could see he was worried about getting too far down the trail with this kind of stiffness. I knew though that even mile 87 stiffness dissipates just enough to get it done. Might not be pretty, but there was no other choice at that point.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8AqGOUT8v4Y/VZnVjh8CY1I/AAAAAAAAI70/4zxXp6Z6dws/s1600/GF6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8AqGOUT8v4Y/VZnVjh8CY1I/AAAAAAAAI70/4zxXp6Z6dws/s320/GF6.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The shoes, the bib, the buckle. Congrats G-Man</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Rather than detail out the onion peeling that is<i>&nbsp;</i>finishing a 100 miler, getting that shit done, kicking your own ass, icing the cake, experiencing your own self demise, nirvana, there’s-nothing-in-the-world-that-compares, crying from joy, masochistic masturbation, let me just say he did finish his first 100 and I fucking cried. I’m pretty sure he did too. But I didn’t let him know I cried I just shot photos from the finish as I paced him to the end as though this shit happened every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QALB-Kys0ik/VZd4gO1ZZrI/AAAAAAAAI5Y/6cDc_DVV3tY/s1600/GC31.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QALB-Kys0ik/VZd4gO1ZZrI/AAAAAAAAI5Y/6cDc_DVV3tY/s320/GC31.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Candicenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-85439188603981813522015-07-02T22:53:00.001-07:002015-07-02T22:53:28.129-07:00What Happens when you stuff 3 men into an RV: Fastpacking Bigfoot 200The crew of the Bigfoot 200 went out this week in 4 days and mapped the <a href="http://www.bigfoot200.com/" target="_blank">Bigfoot 200 Endurance Run</a> Course. Our brand new Course Marking Coordinator, Ben Mayberry, a surprisingly perfect match for the job (he not only works for the Washington Trails Association, he also can fastpack 30-50 miles a day), Richard Kresser our Logistics and Volunteer Coordinator and adventurer extraordinaire, Garrett Froelich Race Organizer, and myself (Race Director). Throw in 2 kids and 2 wolf descendants and you have a PARTY in the American Clipper RV. Or at least lots of funky smells and ravenous eaters.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oq4TPcngfAA/VZYb7FWxbVI/AAAAAAAAIyE/B2Ms30H2NME/s1600/DSCN1955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oq4TPcngfAA/VZYb7FWxbVI/AAAAAAAAIyE/B2Ms30H2NME/s640/DSCN1955.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Garrett, kids, and I acted as crew most the time and alternated running the course with Ben and Richard. We recorded miles, ascent/descent, water sources, aid station directions, and other key notes along the way. It was very important for me to have my crew know most (if not all) the Bigfoot course. This is both for safety reasons and so that each person can do their job that much better. I've already run most of the route and I am tapering for the Colorado 200 so I did about 30 miles total over the course of 4 days. Here are photos from the sections I ran including some fun(ny) crewing photos.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FTe_NWm-0g4/VZYZSJCEKjI/AAAAAAAAItQ/1ilUiQ4zXGk/s1600/DSCN1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="547" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FTe_NWm-0g4/VZYZSJCEKjI/AAAAAAAAItQ/1ilUiQ4zXGk/s640/DSCN1839.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__UzC2ocI3k/VZYZmAeSUdI/AAAAAAAAIuQ/RtlR0RDgFKs/s1600/DSCN1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__UzC2ocI3k/VZYZmAeSUdI/AAAAAAAAIuQ/RtlR0RDgFKs/s640/DSCN1867.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DD7ecJLy7UM/VZYZTh4VZGI/AAAAAAAAItc/Q6OgEAFTq_Y/s1600/DSCN1849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DD7ecJLy7UM/VZYZTh4VZGI/AAAAAAAAItc/Q6OgEAFTq_Y/s400/DSCN1849.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You just can't take the excited out of this guy.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uy2_wNpUoUA/VZYZXse-hdI/AAAAAAAAIt4/O52x6gfm-q4/s1600/DSCN1856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uy2_wNpUoUA/VZYZXse-hdI/AAAAAAAAIt4/O52x6gfm-q4/s400/DSCN1856.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River cools off in the, er, river. the entire 4 days were hot, HOT, HOT</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0axGzEt-A1s/VZYZYHK5JvI/AAAAAAAAIt8/ji1VulGvEP4/s1600/DSCN1857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0axGzEt-A1s/VZYZYHK5JvI/AAAAAAAAIt8/ji1VulGvEP4/s320/DSCN1857.JPG" width="280" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He will eat anything. &nbsp;Anything gross. I swear it was a poop baggie.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d9clbfx_HlM/VZYZZDvw0WI/AAAAAAAAIuI/u2ZPdUFIHjM/s1600/DSCN1858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="375" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d9clbfx_HlM/VZYZZDvw0WI/AAAAAAAAIuI/u2ZPdUFIHjM/s400/DSCN1858.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See?!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HpXt3eBOcPM/VZYZm5rjD8I/AAAAAAAAIuY/nFboGTaQdEE/s1600/DSCN1875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HpXt3eBOcPM/VZYZm5rjD8I/AAAAAAAAIuY/nFboGTaQdEE/s640/DSCN1875.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Adams</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O90gmS6KUOA/VZYZoj_kT3I/AAAAAAAAIus/GwXdEXm6pBE/s1600/DSCN1877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O90gmS6KUOA/VZYZoj_kT3I/AAAAAAAAIus/GwXdEXm6pBE/s640/DSCN1877.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-alyTduQaGrY/VZYZomHKIgI/AAAAAAAAIuo/BQMmGsmjNuU/s1600/DSCN1879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-alyTduQaGrY/VZYZomHKIgI/AAAAAAAAIuo/BQMmGsmjNuU/s640/DSCN1879.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't take the mountain out of the goat.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CFWdPCWD-yo/VZYZo-oun_I/AAAAAAAAIuw/i4DMjBVAZD4/s1600/DSCN1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CFWdPCWD-yo/VZYZo-oun_I/AAAAAAAAIuw/i4DMjBVAZD4/s640/DSCN1883.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben is just too perfect. Gotta like that. He's going to maker my job as RD much easier.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qsXceLSWFLI/VZYZpv-FP3I/AAAAAAAAIvA/yPajv1BhAOA/s1600/DSCN1887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qsXceLSWFLI/VZYZpv-FP3I/AAAAAAAAIvA/yPajv1BhAOA/s640/DSCN1887.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9BhL-OyAiYI/VZYZqFoNmVI/AAAAAAAAIvE/Kk5GZifIn7g/s1600/DSCN1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9BhL-OyAiYI/VZYZqFoNmVI/AAAAAAAAIvE/Kk5GZifIn7g/s640/DSCN1889.JPG" width="556" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-naG4HLTL6B0/VZYZqv7THyI/AAAAAAAAIvI/1JFC_SCOl3I/s1600/DSCN1892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-naG4HLTL6B0/VZYZqv7THyI/AAAAAAAAIvI/1JFC_SCOl3I/s640/DSCN1892.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock Porn</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8JCxn0y1UM/VZYiVKM-ydI/AAAAAAAAI0c/HGtZqA_5TjU/s1600/11705291_10207557130912425_1276446128096998804_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8JCxn0y1UM/VZYiVKM-ydI/AAAAAAAAI0c/HGtZqA_5TjU/s640/11705291_10207557130912425_1276446128096998804_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ultra runners will sleep anywhere</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6pMIecXcElU/VZYZriAnTBI/AAAAAAAAIvY/QwrRVsC6sr0/s1600/DSCN1896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6pMIecXcElU/VZYZriAnTBI/AAAAAAAAIvY/QwrRVsC6sr0/s640/DSCN1896.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jxMcU8rzhaE/VZYZr9ztR3I/AAAAAAAAIvc/EfAmmvLx4uw/s1600/DSCN1897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jxMcU8rzhaE/VZYZr9ztR3I/AAAAAAAAIvc/EfAmmvLx4uw/s640/DSCN1897.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xkz10oo__jU/VZYZtoX7kqI/AAAAAAAAIvw/E_2REp4CH7w/s1600/DSCN1903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xkz10oo__jU/VZYZtoX7kqI/AAAAAAAAIvw/E_2REp4CH7w/s640/DSCN1903.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. St. Helens</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cLaBcre4EXI/VZYZt7jPaFI/AAAAAAAAIv0/kd2crcvd5sw/s1600/DSCN1906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cLaBcre4EXI/VZYZt7jPaFI/AAAAAAAAIv0/kd2crcvd5sw/s640/DSCN1906.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Margaret backcountry</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVXnFnH_ixc/VZYZuA6ymyI/AAAAAAAAIv4/0mWpE5bS5Aw/s1600/DSCN1910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVXnFnH_ixc/VZYZuA6ymyI/AAAAAAAAIv4/0mWpE5bS5Aw/s640/DSCN1910.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bagging Mount Margaret, on the Bigfoot 200 course</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HmtEu4AaNXc/VZYZvX_pXAI/AAAAAAAAIwI/DCVi5-16D2U/s1600/DSCN1912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HmtEu4AaNXc/VZYZvX_pXAI/AAAAAAAAIwI/DCVi5-16D2U/s640/DSCN1912.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richard really does love Mt. Rainier. Kissy - kissy</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xpClAParHyA/VZYZviKnL4I/AAAAAAAAIwM/E1G6pCWsE5k/s1600/DSCN1914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xpClAParHyA/VZYZviKnL4I/AAAAAAAAIwM/E1G6pCWsE5k/s400/DSCN1914.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dDjESzUg69k/VZYbwuuX86I/AAAAAAAAIwk/yxwwryWkk44/s1600/DSCN1919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dDjESzUg69k/VZYbwuuX86I/AAAAAAAAIwk/yxwwryWkk44/s640/DSCN1919.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ibv-jSbckJc/VZYbwaaj7KI/AAAAAAAAIwc/o-eViAMYvh4/s1600/DSCN1920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ibv-jSbckJc/VZYbwaaj7KI/AAAAAAAAIwc/o-eViAMYvh4/s640/DSCN1920.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lrOXhHrbKuY/VZYb0GaK4UI/AAAAAAAAIw8/uM41YQRDryA/s1600/DSCN1928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lrOXhHrbKuY/VZYb0GaK4UI/AAAAAAAAIw8/uM41YQRDryA/s640/DSCN1928.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dxQOgwExJwM/VZYb1zpfoYI/AAAAAAAAIxM/fxwqVuxI8a4/s1600/DSCN1937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dxQOgwExJwM/VZYb1zpfoYI/AAAAAAAAIxM/fxwqVuxI8a4/s640/DSCN1937.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fm9miW6MwU4/VZYb2PXNVyI/AAAAAAAAIxY/1Em1cuXSObY/s1600/DSCN1940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fm9miW6MwU4/VZYb2PXNVyI/AAAAAAAAIxY/1Em1cuXSObY/s640/DSCN1940.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N4sMJv1tcNc/VZYb2CVsTiI/AAAAAAAAIxQ/9_zSDt2WXRo/s1600/DSCN1942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N4sMJv1tcNc/VZYb2CVsTiI/AAAAAAAAIxQ/9_zSDt2WXRo/s640/DSCN1942.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mUT6BlgTdJI/VZYb3htgZsI/AAAAAAAAIxk/y1SXE6D31qE/s1600/DSCN1944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mUT6BlgTdJI/VZYb3htgZsI/AAAAAAAAIxk/y1SXE6D31qE/s640/DSCN1944.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tWM6VQNw-1w/VZYb43URIQI/AAAAAAAAIxs/AtRIdAC4Y68/s1600/DSCN1945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tWM6VQNw-1w/VZYb43URIQI/AAAAAAAAIxs/AtRIdAC4Y68/s640/DSCN1945.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CTeYACodTjM/VZYjNgj1GxI/AAAAAAAAI0k/Sjp-cgChiJ0/s1600/DSCN1934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CTeYACodTjM/VZYjNgj1GxI/AAAAAAAAI0k/Sjp-cgChiJ0/s400/DSCN1934.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fT3GlxO_ahQ/VZYb5eia6rI/AAAAAAAAIxw/LzNEZF9RmNg/s1600/DSCN1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fT3GlxO_ahQ/VZYb5eia6rI/AAAAAAAAIxw/LzNEZF9RmNg/s640/DSCN1948.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zED3BHPLdis/VZYb5lIIHwI/AAAAAAAAIx4/AvnDHOTQPSc/s1600/DSCN1950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zED3BHPLdis/VZYb5lIIHwI/AAAAAAAAIx4/AvnDHOTQPSc/s640/DSCN1950.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b5dMjELmfJk/VZYb7eO1FNI/AAAAAAAAIyI/I3Uruksb8nI/s1600/DSCN1958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b5dMjELmfJk/VZYb7eO1FNI/AAAAAAAAIyI/I3Uruksb8nI/s640/DSCN1958.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OpcRWVjj5mw/VZYb7oYGICI/AAAAAAAAIyM/_e2BCfJCgAk/s1600/DSCN1961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OpcRWVjj5mw/VZYb7oYGICI/AAAAAAAAIyM/_e2BCfJCgAk/s400/DSCN1961.JPG" width="258" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c8Kzut_ri6U/VZYb8mKWzoI/AAAAAAAAIyc/ybLnYlOXsJA/s1600/DSCN1967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c8Kzut_ri6U/VZYb8mKWzoI/AAAAAAAAIyc/ybLnYlOXsJA/s640/DSCN1967.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WaWZ5sknKfc/VZYb9ScUnRI/AAAAAAAAIyg/Q2v9ueuaY8I/s1600/DSCN1978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WaWZ5sknKfc/VZYb9ScUnRI/AAAAAAAAIyg/Q2v9ueuaY8I/s640/DSCN1978.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7C3WBA6knSk/VZYcDFeH3EI/AAAAAAAAIy8/-KeCi1z_KWU/s1600/DSCN1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7C3WBA6knSk/VZYcDFeH3EI/AAAAAAAAIy8/-KeCi1z_KWU/s640/DSCN1980.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vt0GfAnY0wQ/VZYcC7KaqmI/AAAAAAAAIy4/9BRMp5DP4h4/s1600/DSCN1984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vt0GfAnY0wQ/VZYcC7KaqmI/AAAAAAAAIy4/9BRMp5DP4h4/s400/DSCN1984.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IVTDhz8AFtM/VZYcC7oJ1SI/AAAAAAAAIy0/w7Mq_1gZ3v0/s1600/DSCN1991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IVTDhz8AFtM/VZYcC7oJ1SI/AAAAAAAAIy0/w7Mq_1gZ3v0/s640/DSCN1991.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YH7R-v7RmWE/VZYcE6MqmqI/AAAAAAAAIzY/eW35ciNcAFM/s1600/DSCN1995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YH7R-v7RmWE/VZYcE6MqmqI/AAAAAAAAIzY/eW35ciNcAFM/s400/DSCN1995.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Let's go bag a peak"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMFYDwNRoLk/VZYcE4GGRfI/AAAAAAAAIzQ/ZO-4BhnIXB4/s1600/DSCN1997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMFYDwNRoLk/VZYcE4GGRfI/AAAAAAAAIzQ/ZO-4BhnIXB4/s400/DSCN1997.JPG" width="245" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sIoOTMDIAlA/VZYcEX3du-I/AAAAAAAAIzM/IjYWKnbN-hM/s1600/DSCN1999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sIoOTMDIAlA/VZYcEX3du-I/AAAAAAAAIzM/IjYWKnbN-hM/s400/DSCN1999.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SisrEv6aKOk/VZYcG_mhpDI/AAAAAAAAIzs/QH1hcADjqO0/s1600/DSCN2033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SisrEv6aKOk/VZYcG_mhpDI/AAAAAAAAIzs/QH1hcADjqO0/s400/DSCN2033.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top of Ellis Peak on BF200 course</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SWBCbvKoGZg/VZYcIBYB9kI/AAAAAAAAIz0/_b1OvVvOH8c/s1600/DSCN2036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SWBCbvKoGZg/VZYcIBYB9kI/AAAAAAAAIz0/_b1OvVvOH8c/s640/DSCN2036.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RRzkcA1-MCg/VZYcIl0hJ1I/AAAAAAAAIz4/0I46Xnd85xw/s1600/DSCN2037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RRzkcA1-MCg/VZYcIl0hJ1I/AAAAAAAAIz4/0I46Xnd85xw/s640/DSCN2037.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TKFPyYgkWE0/VZYcJC8OfFI/AAAAAAAAI0A/rac-E7WLXGs/s1600/DSCN2042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TKFPyYgkWE0/VZYcJC8OfFI/AAAAAAAAI0A/rac-E7WLXGs/s400/DSCN2042.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a little dusty out here</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c_EI5YUQHkU/VZYcJ27VyGI/AAAAAAAAI0M/g92Y-5IqYLo/s1600/DSCN2043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c_EI5YUQHkU/VZYcJ27VyGI/AAAAAAAAI0M/g92Y-5IqYLo/s400/DSCN2043.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing section of trail</td></tr></tbody></table>Candicenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-9954071055707629932015-06-15T09:15:00.001-07:002015-06-15T09:15:54.117-07:00Saying YES to Fear: why I won't be running Bighorn<div>I've been struggling with a very hard decision the past few days. The decision? To run Bighorn 100 as planned and get my Hardrock qualifier (the only reason I signed up for it earlier this year although I hear it's very beautiful and tough - more good reasons!) OR go for the Fastest Known Time on the Tahoe Rim Trail (170 miles).&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The only DNF I've ever regretted wasn't even in a race. It was stopping at mile 108 in my attempt to set the FKT on the TRT in July 2013. I'd prepared all that spring to crush the TRT and quitting mid-run meant I'd come back stronger mentally and physically but it hurt so bad to stop before I had finished that I knew right away I had made a mistake. I had picked the hottest weekend all year (I was melting on Mt Rose at mile 100 in 95 F temps) and then I let personal issues get to me mentally. I wanted to complete the TRT so much, I went into a 2 month long funk after quitting and kept looking at my calendar hoping to go back right away and get the monkey off my back.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I left my house yesterday still not knowing what direction I would go: would I take the I-90 east toward Wyoming (run Bighorn) when I hit Seattle or continue South to Tahoe (for a FKT on TRT)? If I'd been someone with a more "normal" schedule I might have been able to fit the TRT in later in the year and still run Bighorn however my race directing/trail work/family duties meant that it was not very likely I could fit it in later.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>A calmness overtook my anxious mind as I was driving, just 1 mile before I-90 exit when a Chevy Tahoe turned in front of me and somehow I knew that I wanted the scarier, the less predictable, the tougher TRT attempt. I felt a responsibility to complete the Bighorn race this Friday, but I also felt a responsibility, a greater one, to complete my unfinished business at Tahoe.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I have been fastpacking all spring scouting for my Bigfoot 200 Endurance Run and the Arizona 200. I finished 5th in 37hrs and change at the ultra tough Ultra &nbsp;Fiord in April. I think my training has been on spot to tackle either race or long FKT, but especially on spot for the TRT FKT. The rivers are flowing and the temperatures are low enough at Tahoe now. It's time. Later in the summer with the lack of snow at Tahoe and the higher temps, an unsupported run would be incredibly difficult. So here goes....</div><div><br></div><div>I'll run the route unsupported from Tahoe City counterclockwise carrying everything I need for the entire 170 miles. I will try for the women's supported record and the overall unsupported records: Amber Monforte has the women's supported FKT, 49h17m, September 5-7, 2014.</div><div>JB Benna has the unsupported FKT, 58h43m12s, September 29 - October 1, 2013. I'm not sure if I can beat Amber's excellent supported record while running unsupported, but the idea intrigues me and that's all I need to attempt to get sub-49.</div><div><br></div><div>Whether or not I am able to get the supported/unsupported records I will finish this route. I will do it for the experience, for a respite from daily life and to connect with what really matters to me: I will give my energy in the mountains and I will receive it back, cleansed.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I start Friday.&nbsp;</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mXXR_q9QUow/VX76Nx6rJVI/AAAAAAAAIrE/7O6ZBe8dSVs/s640/blogger-image--1643896872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mXXR_q9QUow/VX76Nx6rJVI/AAAAAAAAIrE/7O6ZBe8dSVs/s640/blogger-image--1643896872.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Running the TRT 100 mile in July 2012. The start of my obsession with the mountains around Tahoe. And yes that's a plaid visor. Boo yah.&nbsp;</i></div><br></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-14702577138585049582015-05-13T14:00:00.004-07:002015-05-13T14:00:57.428-07:00Life on the RoadI'm back on the road again. It's my 4th trip in 5 months. Last year I calculated that I was out of town 5 months of the year. That's either for directing races, scouting courses, or racing 100s. It makes for a busy and unpredictable life, but I wouldn't have it any other way. When I travel I feel alive and free in a way I don't feel any other time except running.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_sxFJfPEGsQ/VVO1GLncolI/AAAAAAAAIiM/JJ09Gv8n3Mg/s1600/IMG_2377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_sxFJfPEGsQ/VVO1GLncolI/AAAAAAAAIiM/JJ09Gv8n3Mg/s400/IMG_2377.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Road trip essentials</td></tr></tbody></table>I'm en route from Washington to Arizona currently, at this exact moment I am near Bryce canyon National Park, headed to the Grand Canyon. I began the trip with some work scouting aid locations for the Bigfoot 200 &amp; meeting with Forest Service, celebrating Mother's Day with my mom and kids in Eastern Washington then leaving for Arizona. The Arizona portion of the trip consists of crewing and pacing a coaching client/friend at his first 100 miler this weekend and then scouting out the Arizona 200 course.<br /><br />I was unable to get much scouting done last time I was in AZ, so I'm excited to see the trails on this trip. Afterward, I head home to direct the Deception Pass Marathon &amp; Half in early June... then run the Bighorn 100 in mid-June...then work party for the Bigfoot 200 at Mt. Adams in late June... then to Colorado for the Colorado 200 (racing, woohoo!) in July... then to Mt. St. Helens to direct the first annual Bigfoot 200 ... then to Tahoe in late August/Sept to direct the Tahoe 200... and on and on and on.<br /><br />Luckily this year I have hired a few extra people and I am excited to be handing off more of the business work for my own sanity and because Destination Trail LLC is GROWING! Yay!!<br /><br />Here are some pics from my trip so far.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3CoomBeUZvQ/VVO1AGKFdxI/AAAAAAAAIgo/DsQCVHHraSY/s1600/IMG_2155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3CoomBeUZvQ/VVO1AGKFdxI/AAAAAAAAIgo/DsQCVHHraSY/s320/IMG_2155.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River gets the welcome she deserves at a hotel in Hood River. We stayed the night to get some work done (we, meaning "me". River managed to chew up the stuffed porcupine the hotel gave her and convince me every 30 mins that she needed to pee (nope just trying to get pet by one of the many late night brewery goers...). She's a bit social you might say.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hyJ3wdzRBkg/VVO1AIll7TI/AAAAAAAAIgk/BL9rGY2J-ZE/s1600/IMG_2157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hyJ3wdzRBkg/VVO1AIll7TI/AAAAAAAAIgk/BL9rGY2J-ZE/s640/IMG_2157.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of mt. St. Helen's from near one of the Bigfoot 200 aid stations</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFRSF7f-AaA/VVO1ASqu0NI/AAAAAAAAIgs/k8e1RelHK08/s1600/IMG_2166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFRSF7f-AaA/VVO1ASqu0NI/AAAAAAAAIgs/k8e1RelHK08/s320/IMG_2166.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River trying to sleep in the car. She's my RD sidekick, but mostly she keeps me entertained (see pic above) and takes me on walks.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GneissczCWk/VVO1BSqmnKI/AAAAAAAAIhA/jqQMrBDBa20/s1600/IMG_2193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GneissczCWk/VVO1BSqmnKI/AAAAAAAAIhA/jqQMrBDBa20/s400/IMG_2193.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally got my license plate on my "new" not so new car.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6_dJ5Q03xQ/VVO1BOdK2XI/AAAAAAAAIhI/iV-iRtZbxNQ/s1600/IMG_2239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6_dJ5Q03xQ/VVO1BOdK2XI/AAAAAAAAIhI/iV-iRtZbxNQ/s400/IMG_2239.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marina and Stella on a sage picking expedition on Mother's Day</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GnjR4iQ43qg/VVO1CAyaJiI/AAAAAAAAIhM/mCNhAobz1ZY/s1600/IMG_2252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GnjR4iQ43qg/VVO1CAyaJiI/AAAAAAAAIhM/mCNhAobz1ZY/s400/IMG_2252.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I may be road tripping, but I always bring lots of fresh food. I've learned not to bring any "unhealthy" foods or I will eat them, so I stock the car with apples, almonds, salad mix, canned fish/chicken, kombucha, fresh squeezed juice (if I can get to a whole foods), plantain chips, balsamic vinegar, instant miso, and lots of coffee. lots. tons.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhStku7LHUA/VVO1CgmesTI/AAAAAAAAIhY/TCGBIWoree0/s1600/IMG_2269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhStku7LHUA/VVO1CgmesTI/AAAAAAAAIhY/TCGBIWoree0/s320/IMG_2269.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">getting excited about a run! I always find secluded back roads to camp on, this was one I visited on my last trip to AZ (it's in OR) and wanted to explore. Lookout Mountain</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j522SZ2Z0R4/VVO1C00yk0I/AAAAAAAAIhQ/N4CAsvq63_w/s1600/IMG_2291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j522SZ2Z0R4/VVO1C00yk0I/AAAAAAAAIhQ/N4CAsvq63_w/s400/IMG_2291.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vehicle setup, for car camping and outdoor fun</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yi7qnhlYVLM/VVO1D2ccnJI/AAAAAAAAIho/5axWxTIEVng/s1600/IMG_2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yi7qnhlYVLM/VVO1D2ccnJI/AAAAAAAAIho/5axWxTIEVng/s400/IMG_2304.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my record, 41 miles with the gas light on. Pretty worried I was going to have to run to the next gas station. Made it, amazingly.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KHqu86WxMV8/VVO1EOqG3GI/AAAAAAAAIhs/ZA1UbxJ_i54/s1600/IMG_2343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="344" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KHqu86WxMV8/VVO1EOqG3GI/AAAAAAAAIhs/ZA1UbxJ_i54/s640/IMG_2343.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running in Idaho from another awesome spot I camped at. I've become quite the expert at finding semi-legal (secluded) camping spots.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NGVMWou4aN4/VVO1EPjUUlI/AAAAAAAAIhw/pTH-2iwBip8/s1600/IMG_2364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NGVMWou4aN4/VVO1EPjUUlI/AAAAAAAAIhw/pTH-2iwBip8/s400/IMG_2364.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running in Idaho. I try to run everyday. I begin the morning with coffee and core exercises then run, then drive...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OjoNDgJC2i8/VVO1FMayZ_I/AAAAAAAAIh8/hH8vZVcrHjo/s1600/IMG_2374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OjoNDgJC2i8/VVO1FMayZ_I/AAAAAAAAIh8/hH8vZVcrHjo/s400/IMG_2374.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like to see these signs... unless I need to drive through there :)&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TDJMYh3ooaQ/VVO1GYAyvrI/AAAAAAAAIiQ/9G95MRcwEQc/s1600/IMG_2379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TDJMYh3ooaQ/VVO1GYAyvrI/AAAAAAAAIiQ/9G95MRcwEQc/s400/IMG_2379.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More road tripping essentials</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-il0vOe5jOcA/VVO1G5n0u3I/AAAAAAAAIiU/hvqxVl7Xkn8/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-il0vOe5jOcA/VVO1G5n0u3I/AAAAAAAAIiU/hvqxVl7Xkn8/s320/IMG_2398.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More road tripping food: tuna, spicy nut mix, avocado and truffle infused balsamic vinegar</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a2kd22GGm6M/VVO1G5OagdI/AAAAAAAAIic/bjmZp6sKds4/s1600/IMG_2401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a2kd22GGm6M/VVO1G5OagdI/AAAAAAAAIic/bjmZp6sKds4/s320/IMG_2401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I need to shower (or want to) I use my 7gal water dispenser. It only takes 1-2 gals to wash the hair and essentials.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--CCv9JTIam0/VVO1HPYcbUI/AAAAAAAAIiY/MSIw1FjlCxY/s1600/IMG_2405.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--CCv9JTIam0/VVO1HPYcbUI/AAAAAAAAIiY/MSIw1FjlCxY/s400/IMG_2405.PNG" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another travel essential: WAZE, it can tell you when cops are present. I like that very much.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Want More?</span></i></b></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">For more daily fitness ideas, inspiration, and humor, check out my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Facebook Page</span></a></span></i></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yoga based core and strength exercises on my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail"><span class="s2">YouTube Channel</span></a></span></i></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A little crazy on&nbsp;<a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun"><span class="s2">Instagram</span></a></span></i></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Short, sweet and sassy on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Twitter</span></a></span></i></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Entertaining 5 million at a time on&nbsp;<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts"><span class="s2">Google+</span></a></span></i></span></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-41937114358926401262015-05-06T23:59:00.001-07:002015-05-07T00:10:23.126-07:00Shaking the Sand Off the Blanket for the Bigfoot 200My job this week: 4x4 rally car driver "The High Priestess" aka "Lost Trail Runner" strikes again in the Gifford Pinchot<br /><br />This week I have the pleasure of doing some on-site Bigfoot work. As the event nears, we are nailing down exact locations for the aid stations. This is a first-year thing for sure. In its inaugural year, every race has to shake the sand off the blanket. This year we had to reroute a portion, adding some seriously amazing ridge views and trails, but also relocating aid. This trip consists of visiting each site, and determining the best location for aid. I'm looking for plenty of parking, large opening (in the forests), and as easy of access by vehicle as possible, a bit of a challenge in this remote section of the Cascade Mountains in Washington.<br /><br />Each stretch of road on the way to each aid location was recorded for drivability (4WD, 2WD, mud, rocks, holes) and distance (from key intersections or land markings. After all, we want to make sure that crew and aid workers can get to each location following these instructions. Tomorrow I have a meeting with the Forest Service to confirm these locations. Then back home by Friday and leave for California and Arizona on Monday ~~ whirlwind ~~<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o7w8rFcQvTs/VUsF_MJTaaI/AAAAAAAAIZk/_K03kgzCs14/s1600/DSCN1423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o7w8rFcQvTs/VUsF_MJTaaI/AAAAAAAAIZk/_K03kgzCs14/s640/DSCN1423.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LemWisfaZ8c/VUsGN0Tt6vI/AAAAAAAAIZs/L4kL2VqF4fY/s1600/DSCN1425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LemWisfaZ8c/VUsGN0Tt6vI/AAAAAAAAIZs/L4kL2VqF4fY/s640/DSCN1425.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bNaSMpWrgvI/VUsF-YkVfWI/AAAAAAAAIZc/MEstXgzwFYI/s1600/IMG_1931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bNaSMpWrgvI/VUsF-YkVfWI/AAAAAAAAIZc/MEstXgzwFYI/s640/IMG_1931.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5Ovvqo8G68/VUsGWkGe5nI/AAAAAAAAIZ8/RzTlogt2My4/s1600/IMG_1941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5Ovvqo8G68/VUsGWkGe5nI/AAAAAAAAIZ8/RzTlogt2My4/s640/IMG_1941.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cYCETT8apL0/VUsGm8R4JPI/AAAAAAAAIaE/EafZQytr8mg/s1600/IMG_1972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cYCETT8apL0/VUsGm8R4JPI/AAAAAAAAIaE/EafZQytr8mg/s640/IMG_1972.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udgICrRFVHs/VUsGngvyKhI/AAAAAAAAIaM/2b1TaWRP1-0/s1600/IMG_1984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udgICrRFVHs/VUsGngvyKhI/AAAAAAAAIaM/2b1TaWRP1-0/s640/IMG_1984.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2C1Oyxh1BcM/VUsGtmnfkKI/AAAAAAAAIaY/-K6EK-fgOEo/s1600/IMG_1988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2C1Oyxh1BcM/VUsGtmnfkKI/AAAAAAAAIaY/-K6EK-fgOEo/s640/IMG_1988.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MLCPN5A3_4E/VUsGtuPKphI/AAAAAAAAIaU/Hvku1z2J-Vw/s1600/IMG_2004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="470" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MLCPN5A3_4E/VUsGtuPKphI/AAAAAAAAIaU/Hvku1z2J-Vw/s640/IMG_2004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My, foot, River's print (center) and a BIG print (right)!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_6zfD6q_xGM/VUsHEOVJMZI/AAAAAAAAIaw/64smEPootfQ/s1600/IMG_2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_6zfD6q_xGM/VUsHEOVJMZI/AAAAAAAAIaw/64smEPootfQ/s640/IMG_2010.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c4VBOOifZcY/VUsHBi6SR-I/AAAAAAAAIak/9UMwiMiq7_k/s1600/IMG_2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c4VBOOifZcY/VUsHBi6SR-I/AAAAAAAAIak/9UMwiMiq7_k/s640/IMG_2019.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rYedYn-aOn4/VUsHcq8JtnI/AAAAAAAAIbc/T3Av97cJHSU/s1600/IMG_2033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rYedYn-aOn4/VUsHcq8JtnI/AAAAAAAAIbc/T3Av97cJHSU/s640/IMG_2033.JPG" width="606" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vzbPyHhtAhU/VUsHYBkX14I/AAAAAAAAIbA/p4mGiGkgSaQ/s1600/IMG_2036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="351" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vzbPyHhtAhU/VUsHYBkX14I/AAAAAAAAIbA/p4mGiGkgSaQ/s400/IMG_2036.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Managing to collect enough soil for a garden in the driver's side</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HaOeaZTQzHI/VUsHaq8hLvI/AAAAAAAAIbM/zVyqKNF5LD8/s1600/IMG_2098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HaOeaZTQzHI/VUsHaq8hLvI/AAAAAAAAIbM/zVyqKNF5LD8/s400/IMG_2098.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Travel Pals</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xmwAc6N3sF0/VUsH-uvQDwI/AAAAAAAAIcE/0IthKiws3WY/s1600/IMG_2114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xmwAc6N3sF0/VUsH-uvQDwI/AAAAAAAAIcE/0IthKiws3WY/s640/IMG_2114.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the future aid station locations, Chain of Lakes Campground</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z21BrOPjA8k/VUsH3WHvMfI/AAAAAAAAIb8/TViYET3pn60/s1600/IMG_2132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z21BrOPjA8k/VUsH3WHvMfI/AAAAAAAAIb8/TViYET3pn60/s400/IMG_2132.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just when I got out of the car for my constant state tempo repeats it began snowing! Was fun, but being 2 hours away from real roads, worrying that I would get stuck in the snow.</td></tr></tbody></table><b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Want More?</span></i></b><br /><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">For more daily fitness ideas, inspiration, and humor, check out my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Facebook Page</span></a></span></i></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yoga based core and strength exercises on my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail"><span class="s2">YouTube Channel</span></a></span></i></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A little crazy on&nbsp;<a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun"><span class="s2">Instagram</span></a></span></i></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Short, sweet and sassy on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Twitter</span></a></span></i></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Entertaining 5 million at a time on&nbsp;<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts"><span class="s2">Google+</span></a></span></i></span></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-48548743569522518292015-04-28T16:22:00.000-07:002015-04-29T15:36:46.755-07:00Romance in Torres del Paine National Park, ChileI ended up in the camping building of a Refugio in Chile at the witching hour with a group of ten men all of whom could speak English, but with varying accents, five empty boxed wine cartons and half a bottle of Cabernet had as much to do with the flooding and storms that created a red alert in the Torres del Paine Park as it did with boisterous energy that flooded the lodge. The Japanese contingent singing "Rainbow" (complete with arm waving and swaying) and the wine... it was only a matter of time before we were kicked out of the main building, downgraded to the camp building.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mR1zmbG6wXA/VT__GQTyNTI/AAAAAAAAIT8/46MZMvrwD-U/s1600/Refugio%2BCueneros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mR1zmbG6wXA/VT__GQTyNTI/AAAAAAAAIT8/46MZMvrwD-U/s1600/Refugio%2BCueneros.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refugio Cuernos from <a href="http://www.visitchile.com/es/tours/trekking-w-en-torres-del-paine-5-dias-4-noches.htm" target="_blank">Visit Chile</a></td></tr></tbody></table>"Would you rather have fingers as long as your legs or legs as long as your fingers?" The Bearded Joker asked, glancing at his phone to read from some sort of list of "Would You Rather" questions. He was from New York and seemed comfortable taking on the entertaining role in the group. This was a series of non stop questions that Bearded Joker kept tossing out into the crowd, his captive audience, and we kept answering. After all, what else did we have to do while sipping boxed wine, stuck in a Refugio Los Cuernos, a Lodge on the W circuit, while hiking the park? We had all been caught in what Stjepan Pavicic would later tell me was the biggest rain storm in 10 years, and he'd know, he grew up in the region and worked as a mountaineer, expedition leader and race director.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L9jpNBN-Lm0/VUAAc2haKUI/AAAAAAAAIUI/9hYaraKsutY/s1600/11154787_554087528067110_2861779631999249245_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L9jpNBN-Lm0/VUAAc2haKUI/AAAAAAAAIUI/9hYaraKsutY/s1600/11154787_554087528067110_2861779631999249245_o.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the podium for the Ultra Fiord 108mi/173K</td></tr></tbody></table>If anything I land on the ambitious side of everything, always thinking I can squeeze one more experience out of an already flooded life. In this case ambition meant a hike/run of the 140K "O" Circuit in the stunning Torres del Paine Park a few days after finishing the <a href="http://www.wilddefined.com/2015/04/on-becoming-conqueror-ultra-fiord-108-mi.html" target="_blank">ultra tough Ultra Fiord</a>&nbsp;173K/108 mi trail race. The Ultra Fiord ended up being an&nbsp;ordeal that lasted 37+ hours complete with wet feet, near hypothermia, puma encounters, constant rain and endless thigh deep mud. I had planned my trip for an entire 3 weeks so that I could have this extra week to play on the trails, so 'race fatigue' or not I was going exploring! Little did I know the rain, fatigue and storms would continue to follow me on this adventure as well.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmCvIPpHEHk/VUAC4yhAb_I/AAAAAAAAIVc/GpAa6kRp0jc/s1600/DSCN1323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmCvIPpHEHk/VUAC4yhAb_I/AAAAAAAAIVc/GpAa6kRp0jc/s1600/DSCN1323.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The not-so-waterproof-waterproof jacket, Day 1</td></tr></tbody></table>Would you rather be 4'5" or 7'7"?" The Bearded Joker asked. Furrowed brows all around the room. Hmmm. 4'5", the women answered. 7'7", the men answered. Apparently when it comes to sticking out, we prefer our gender roles. I wondered what Megan at 6'4" inches tall would say. She had run the 70k at the Ultra Fiord and had immediately recognized me upon entering the Refugio. She also had come out to the park to hike the O Circuit, now turning out to be more of an "L" with all the trails getting closed down. I glanced over at her, but she was in the corner reading a book, unaware of the height discussion at the next table.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HMlloP_RYbY/VUADHbkVRJI/AAAAAAAAIWk/11lk_94CgrA/s1600/DSCN1363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HMlloP_RYbY/VUADHbkVRJI/AAAAAAAAIWk/11lk_94CgrA/s1600/DSCN1363.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tall Megan and Aussie Doc</td></tr></tbody></table>The workers at the lodge merely had to turn off all lights to send the more meek to bed and the more adventurous out to the camping building. The camping building was a place for hikers who were camping to dry their equipment, eat, and hang out and was a way to separate the people who paid for lodging from the people who were only paying to pitch a tent. One of the cool things about the Torres del Paine park is that you can just hike from lodge to lodge free from carrying any camping gear, if you were willing to pay for a bunk.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1Kgr3aTNz4/VUACpf0U8sI/AAAAAAAAIUY/2kwoffkSAro/s1600/DSCN1223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1Kgr3aTNz4/VUACpf0U8sI/AAAAAAAAIUY/2kwoffkSAro/s1600/DSCN1223.JPG" height="270" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wind and weather were beyond intense!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m99OKswFkzo/VUACz3URqCI/AAAAAAAAIVI/Wt6sHaohijg/s1600/DSCN1261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m99OKswFkzo/VUACz3URqCI/AAAAAAAAIVI/Wt6sHaohijg/s1600/DSCN1261.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last thing I wanted was more mud after the Ultra Fiord's 50k of mud...</td></tr></tbody></table>It wasn't news to us that a big storm had been flooding the park, most of us had been miserably slogging through it for the past few days fighting hypothermia while completely wet to the bone. Many of the trails in the park had closed due to the flooding as rivers became impassable. The real news was that the buses weren't servicing the park anymore, cancelled by floods that had closed down roads into the park. We were stuck in the park (all of us had arrived via bus) for the time being and we had no idea how long it would last. So we partied and before long, the refugio was out of wine.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ClI_wJO5-6U/VUADAkOmX7I/AAAAAAAAIWA/8mn45eocdNs/s1600/DSCN1341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ClI_wJO5-6U/VUADAkOmX7I/AAAAAAAAIWA/8mn45eocdNs/s1600/DSCN1341.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the veryflooded rivers on the way to Refugio Cuernos</td></tr></tbody></table>"Would you rather run a 100 miles an hour or fly at 10 miles per hour?" The Bearded Joker asked in the camping building, he was still going strong even after drinking his fair share of the boxed wine.<br /><br />"Hey don't wake up Luis!" Dublin said to me with urgency as I was about to move two chairs with a blanket over them, making space for the group at a picnic table. It looked like a kid's fort right in the middle of the building. Dublin was an Irishman of about 26 years old with a sense of humor that could be counted on at every turn.<br /><br />"Oh! Sorry, I didn't realize--" I stumbled, surprised, feeling bad for possibly waking up the guy who was sleeping under the chairs in his made-up tent. Then I saw Dublin barely containing a smile as his joke became clear, "Hey! There's no one under there you shithead!" We all laughed. I could hold my own with the boys, that much was for sure.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7CALJZXDeHs/VUAPwsdY5DI/AAAAAAAAIX0/sxkN8DCxFXw/s1600/Torres%2Bdel%2Bpain%2Bmap.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7CALJZXDeHs/VUAPwsdY5DI/AAAAAAAAIX0/sxkN8DCxFXw/s1600/Torres%2Bdel%2Bpain%2Bmap.png" height="484" width="640" /></a><br />My trip to Torres del Paine began with an early morning bus ticket to the park. Buses were the most popular mode of transport in and out of the park as many of the visitors came from around the world to see this famously beautiful park, it's massive column like towering mountains, the glaciers, and the world class trails that circled the park in either an "O" Shape or a "W" shape, the W being the shortest of the two routes. It was a hiker /trail runner paradise.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mYvqin3ZJg0/VUACz-qG8dI/AAAAAAAAIVE/l1DOehhuK2E/s1600/DSCN1295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mYvqin3ZJg0/VUACz-qG8dI/AAAAAAAAIVE/l1DOehhuK2E/s1600/DSCN1295.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-73YauQx3FKA/VUADNHWRh7I/AAAAAAAAIW8/XZ4I_HW-NRM/s1600/DSCN1371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-73YauQx3FKA/VUADNHWRh7I/AAAAAAAAIW8/XZ4I_HW-NRM/s1600/DSCN1371.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>The rain began thundering down before I even climbed out of my bed at the Amerindia Hostel that morning and continued through day one and day two. I started my trek at the Administration building in the South of the park and hiked/ran 18k to the first Refugio (lodge) through 50+ mph winds and driving rain. I stopped briefly at the Refugio for a cup of coffee and sandwich and continued on toward Refugio Grey, another 11km North. My spirits were soaring high on that strong wind, I was excited to be running free in the park, adventure here I come! I sang to my ipod songs, leaned into the wind and imagined I was an eagle on a powerful ride. Or maybe a fish in the ocean with all this water which was creating some serious streams in the trail.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DtpRoFdcR0o/VUACvN4237I/AAAAAAAAIU4/2ILJYlyi-co/s1600/DSCN1239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DtpRoFdcR0o/VUACvN4237I/AAAAAAAAIU4/2ILJYlyi-co/s1600/DSCN1239.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refugio Paine Grande, 18 km into the route. Yes the water is incredibly blue but it is cold as fuck.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bDOTmtUupNQ/VUACvNzA39I/AAAAAAAAIUw/XJTixywBpGo/s1600/DSCN1242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bDOTmtUupNQ/VUACvNzA39I/AAAAAAAAIUw/XJTixywBpGo/s1600/DSCN1242.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />Right away I could feel my achilles was still very sore from the race. I've had achilles pain from overtraining/racing before and I had a good idea that I could hike through the pain, afterall, when do you get a chance to run an incredible race AND hike a long route in Chile's most famous park?! The driving rain soon exposed my rain jacket's lack of waterproof abilities. Shit, I should've waterproofed it again before this trip, but it was too late. There was no going back and certainly no time machine for the unprepared. I knew I could handle anything this trip threw at me but it might be a long 4-5 days if it kept raining with this intensity!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz_fhsX7dpg/VUARRrGf0-I/AAAAAAAAIYM/nMoi17xk_TI/s1600/DSCN1290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xz_fhsX7dpg/VUARRrGf0-I/AAAAAAAAIYM/nMoi17xk_TI/s1600/DSCN1290.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refugio Grey in all its glory!!!</td></tr></tbody></table>Refugio Grey is nestled in trees colored by autumn: with red, orange, yellow and every hue between them this time of year. If you have the luck of a clear day to see it as you arrive from the South, you will notice it sits just under a massive glacier. A stunning and wild backdrop for this backcountry lodge. As I arrived I struggled between my decision to camp (I brought a tent) and a desire to get a bunk bed for the night. I was completely soaked and getting a bed indoors would mean I could at least attempt to dry my very wet clothes and gear. Bed it was. I also purchased a dinner, which was a three course meal (extra for wine or beer) and I settled at a table with other travelers, all of whom spoke English- a common theme on the trail. When the group heard about my race <i>173K??!! </i>they had a million questions and I regretted telling them I had done it at all as I was asked about training, the race, recovery, and more.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jLC-YdHa0_Y/VUAC2_YgpRI/AAAAAAAAIVU/UZG1TWNdlLY/s1600/DSCN1310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jLC-YdHa0_Y/VUAC2_YgpRI/AAAAAAAAIVU/UZG1TWNdlLY/s1600/DSCN1310.JPG" height="417" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The glacier</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tuPQgtEupms/VUAC5RY2B1I/AAAAAAAAIVg/LzmBSLNIz4M/s1600/DSCN1318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tuPQgtEupms/VUAC5RY2B1I/AAAAAAAAIVg/LzmBSLNIz4M/s1600/DSCN1318.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stark, cold, fall colors</td></tr></tbody></table>The next day I set out for French Valley hoping to have time to do 25-30 miles. Today was expected to rain much harder then the pervious day, something I seriously doubted was possible. It was. I was able to run most of the way from Refugio Grey to the Refugio Paine Grande, then started heading East on what would prove to be the coldest and wettest of all the sections. Rivers were overflowing, spilling onto the trail and making the trail one gigantic waterslide. the water flow was so strong, it was as though someone had unkinked a hose and all the pressure was shooting down the trail. Rocks, debris, and even I was swept down the trail, only to have to ford uphill against the current around the next corner.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8oDQ_vaZOw0/VUADAcUiOTI/AAAAAAAAIV8/tA3Hhp1-bfA/s1600/DSCN1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8oDQ_vaZOw0/VUADAcUiOTI/AAAAAAAAIV8/tA3Hhp1-bfA/s1600/DSCN1335.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the tamer river-trails</td></tr></tbody></table>The water coming from the streams was ice bucket cold. My feet ached with the pain of temperature change, but mostly with the cold. Just when they might begin to feel warm again, briefly, I'd have to wade thigh high through another stream, or find the trail that had been washed out and hidden by all the water. Everything just looked like another stream.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-il93UDEmWxA/VUADF5pg6BI/AAAAAAAAIWc/rg2dfaMJgFk/s1600/DSCN1355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-il93UDEmWxA/VUADF5pg6BI/AAAAAAAAIWc/rg2dfaMJgFk/s1600/DSCN1355.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Streams heavy with extreme rainfall</td></tr></tbody></table>After hours of trekking through the water following the trail, I finally came upon the final Refugio Los Cuernos where we would all be stuck for the night by the massive flooding. I paid for a bunk, showered without soap and dried off without a towel, redressed without socks or shoes (still wet) and laid all my wet gear and clothing out by the fire to (hopefully) dry a bit by morning.<br /><br />By the time dinner was over I'd was already undefeated at a sort of "war"-esque card game I'd just learned that included slapping matches and matches that were sandwiched between cards but mostly meant slapping each other's hands. the guide who taught me the game was chubby in a athletic way with dreads and an intense and careful smile. Dreads did not like losing to me but as she put it, she's learned to be a good sport. I wasn't sure what that would've meant for me if I'd played her previous to this change in attitude, but I was glad for it nonetheless.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XqzPjknL3tY/VUAC5jdA2NI/AAAAAAAAIVk/rSpd8BbT9_w/s1600/DSCN1329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XqzPjknL3tY/VUAC5jdA2NI/AAAAAAAAIVk/rSpd8BbT9_w/s1600/DSCN1329.JPG" height="363" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some floating ice from the glacier above Refugio Grey</td></tr></tbody></table>By morning the sunshine was out quite amazingly and a group of us was sitting around a table enjoying a large breakfast and instant coffee, hungover enough that our brains were in slo-mo. Dublin joined us, his teeth still purple with wine. I smiled and we playfully picked on each other the rest of breakfast, me of his Irish background (I'm part Irish too) and him on my ability to hang with the guys. Just like in the Ultra Fiord, I was the Last Woman Standing last night, the only girl to stay up late joking and shittalking in the camping shelter.<br /><br />I made plans to head out to the next camping/bunking location, just 11km East to Hosteria Torres. No one knew if the buses would be running but we all knew that both ends of the W were closed due to bridges being washed out and dangerously high stream crossings. All the closures meant that I would not be able to hike the route, so I planned to take the bus back to Puerto Natales that day, if it was running. As I left the lodge, two women, Tall Megs from Canada and Doctor Aussie, from Australia, were also headed out for the same section. I decided to hang with them for a bit and chat.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7i7aRQ9REZ0/VUADJj35AmI/AAAAAAAAIWs/lCWfFZwmHQY/s1600/DSCN1365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7i7aRQ9REZ0/VUADJj35AmI/AAAAAAAAIWs/lCWfFZwmHQY/s1600/DSCN1365.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aussie Doc and me</td></tr></tbody></table>The 11km segment of trail from Refugio Cuernos to Torres was very wet with many stream crossings but the rain had stopped and I even felt the sunshine a few times. I so enjoyed having my girl talk with Aussie &amp; Megs that I was happy to slow my usually fast pace to hang with them. We mostly talked boys and it was fun to see how many similarities the three of us independent women had when it came to dating and lack thereof. Before we knew it we were at Torres, and to our surprise the bus was running!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vuor6FDSpjY/VUADFUqqebI/AAAAAAAAIWU/Do0CiTnhQeg/s1600/DSCN1362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vuor6FDSpjY/VUADFUqqebI/AAAAAAAAIWU/Do0CiTnhQeg/s1600/DSCN1362.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views from the trail, Refugio Cuernos to Torres. You might say I'm in love.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>As I settled into my seat, the third day of wet socks and hypothermic feet, I grieved for leaving my new lover--- the mountains of Torres del Paine. I'd just barely been able to explore them, to feel their powerful presence, the towering columns and cold streams that I ran through. Even those short experiences had burned, or rather washed, their shape into my body. I could no longer live without the deep desire to revisit this romance.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VMwwnYZRtjI/VUADUio4LWI/AAAAAAAAIXk/juc7ZSZ6hw8/s1600/DSCN1395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VMwwnYZRtjI/VUADUio4LWI/AAAAAAAAIXk/juc7ZSZ6hw8/s1600/DSCN1395.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final view of the mountains before returning to Puerto Natales</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9jqKlh4yUrA/VUADRlfmIxI/AAAAAAAAIXU/KzFPfyYDGIU/s1600/DSCN1387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9jqKlh4yUrA/VUADRlfmIxI/AAAAAAAAIXU/KzFPfyYDGIU/s1600/DSCN1387.JPG" height="350" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><b><br /></b></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rHSzwwEins0/VUADT1tbrwI/AAAAAAAAIXc/8KJ59wqW8pk/s1600/DSCN1391-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rHSzwwEins0/VUADT1tbrwI/AAAAAAAAIXc/8KJ59wqW8pk/s1600/DSCN1391-001.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fuck yea.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Want More?</b></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">For more daily fitness ideas, inspiration, and humor, check out my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Facebook Page</span></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Yoga based core and strength exercises on my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail"><span class="s2">YouTube Channel</span></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">A little crazy on&nbsp;<a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun"><span class="s2">Instagram</span></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Short, sweet and sassy on&nbsp;<span class="s2"><a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice">Twitter</a></span></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Entertaining 5 million at a time on&nbsp;<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts"><span class="s2">Google+</span></a></span></div>Candicenoreply@blogger.com0Torres del Paine, Torres del Paine, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, Chile-51.259167 -72.345000000000027-52.536035999999996 -74.926787000000033 -49.982298 -69.763213000000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-79546121598326019892015-04-25T18:29:00.000-07:002015-04-26T16:04:52.457-07:00On Becoming a Conqueror: Ultra Fiord 108 miI'm in international departures in the Santiago airport, it's been 24 hours since I left Seattle and a feeling of desperation and caffeine withdrawal was overcoming me as I realized I was in the wrong part of the airport to connect with the third of 3 flights to Patagonia, Chile. I'm on a sponsored trip to run the inaugural <a href="http://www.ultrafiord.com/">Ultra Fiord</a>, a 108 mile (173K) race with an astounding 44 hour cut off time, and here I am already lost in an airport of all places. And why not? I'm all for covering myself in mud and calling that the mountain until I get to the real ones.<br /><br />The cut off times for the Ultra Fiord races mystified the USA elite runners: 34 hours for the 100K, 44 hours for the 100 mile. A day after my airport trouble, the elite runners were all circled around a table at the restaurant La Mesquita Grande in Punta Arenas eating salads and arugula covered pizza as we mulled over the why the cut offs were so long. The runners were quite the eclectic group: Nikki Kimball the fiery red haired mostly undefeated talent from the US who would be a threat to both the women's and men's field, Bronco Billy one of the most consistently badass 100 mile runners in the US who has dominated in the sport for 15 years, and Krissy Moehl, another Washington native like me now living in Colorado, known for her talent on tough mountain courses (she was in the 100k distance) as well as other sponsored runners: Matt from the UK, Enzo from Chile, Harry the gentleman from Brazil of RunningNews fame, all of whom had been flown in to race or cover the event as media.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IhJakKXS5Qk/VTwXjJUMjLI/AAAAAAAAIMo/HPlEU_iJm_0/s1600/11070483_975527969139148_6800384424184245501_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IhJakKXS5Qk/VTwXjJUMjLI/AAAAAAAAIMo/HPlEU_iJm_0/s1600/11070483_975527969139148_6800384424184245501_n.jpg" height="176" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry and me after the race. Harry had a bad accident during the race with his eye getting poked with a branch. He is thankfully okay!</td></tr></tbody></table>We were all eating around one large picnic table, sharing pizza and travel stories. You could viscerally feel the excitement about the challenge ahead. More athletes were arriving in the coming days including Kerrie Bruxvoort (100mi), Britt Dick (100k), Felipe Medina (30k winner), <span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 12.8800001144409px;">Xavier Thevenard (70k winner), Manu Vilaseca (70k winner), Willie McBride (100k), and more.&nbsp;</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7gju2DP7wQ4/VTwXO-AbO3I/AAAAAAAAIL4/DJLFaBk0a9k/s1600/ultrafiord5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7gju2DP7wQ4/VTwXO-AbO3I/AAAAAAAAIL4/DJLFaBk0a9k/s1600/ultrafiord5.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the sponsored runners and media</td></tr></tbody></table><i>I heard that Stjepan wanted to be generous with the time cut off so that many people, not just front of the pack runners, could finish</i>&nbsp;one athlete said. Hmmmm, that's considerate, but something was off. T<i>hat's how I set my cut offs for the Tahoe 200 mile Endurance Run. Makes sense, but still, Hardrock 100 has a 48 hour cutoff and is one of the most difficult endurance runs I've ever seen.</i>&nbsp;Although the thought crossed my mind, and I'm sure others that the reason for the long cut offs may be the difficulty of the course. Nonetheless, it seemed incredibly unlikely the race would take any of us more than 32 hrs, after all, we were considered to be some of the toughest, if not best 100 mile/ultra runners in the world.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQz2g32_Y_Q/VTwXM8lbUHI/AAAAAAAAILg/v3g_IJnfsus/s1600/ultrafiord13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQz2g32_Y_Q/VTwXM8lbUHI/AAAAAAAAILg/v3g_IJnfsus/s1600/ultrafiord13.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nikki enjoys not one, but two salads race week</td></tr></tbody></table>The three days before the race swept by like a river in flood season. The race organization had us booked from one day to the next, taking care to set us up in hotels and with "food tickets" at restaurants for comp meals and transportation so that we had to barely spend a dime. We were bused into Puerto Natales "Gateway to Torres del Paine" and the finish location of the Ultra Fiord 100mi &amp; 100k on Wednesday. Immediately upon arriving in town we went to a press conference where I immediately recognized the Man in Blue.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-siiQoXP_blM/VTwZRufW4eI/AAAAAAAAIN8/MnWM6kO5Ks8/s1600/10699821_10203948738512408_6174389774318223536_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-siiQoXP_blM/VTwZRufW4eI/AAAAAAAAIN8/MnWM6kO5Ks8/s1600/10699821_10203948738512408_6174389774318223536_o.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Man in Blue</td></tr></tbody></table>The Man in Blue had cameras on him and he was speaking into the microphone in Spanish to the media, about the race course, I imagined although I understood nothing. The Man in Blue, Stjepan Pavicic, was the Race Director and visionary for the event. He was the man who could be seen in all the race photos and the race website running through impossibly beautiful Patagonian terrain. He was tall, handsome and athletic. I spoke to him briefly after the conference and noticed he had a smile that invited me in, warm and friendly. <i>Uh oh</i>.<br /><br />You could say I have this thing for race directors. I've dated three RDs. Being a RD takes lots of time and energy, its hard work and the lifestyle demands a lot from our loved ones. We can often be too busy to make a relationship work, yet RDs understand each other and that can be a very attractive trait. As a race director blazing new territory with some unique races, I have a lot of respect for other race directors who are doing similar things. I had the feeling that Stjepan was one of those race directors. A visionary and who wanted to create an event that was uniquely challenging and beautiful. His vision reminded me of my vision for the first 200 mile race in the USA, the <a href="http://www.tahoe200.com/">Tahoe 200</a>. He had the foresight to make a point to point event in some of the most remote and wild lands around and to be able to bring together a field of runners from all over the world, no small feat. I was instantly smitten with that ambition and smile.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6pU3Mj5MMoY/VTwbYZdyZiI/AAAAAAAAIOI/DMVfU12mzQw/s1600/IMG_0664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6pU3Mj5MMoY/VTwbYZdyZiI/AAAAAAAAIOI/DMVfU12mzQw/s1600/IMG_0664.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre race dinner, it was great to meet so many talented runners, among them Felipe Medina who ran the 30k. I had a feeling he would win. He did. Apparently the Jeff Browning/Felipe Medina sandwich luck rubbed off on me ;)</td></tr></tbody></table>The race was to begin at midnight on Thursday. We would start running when we would normally be going to sleep, in other words we would start tired. I caught a 1.5 hour nap that evening before a late 9pm dinner in La Remota Hotel. It was enough to tease my body into wild and vivid dreams of rabid animals (seriously), trails, and cold foreboding mountains. I woke up and already felt as though I'd be traversing the mountain. Dinner was soup and pasta. I ate as much as I could without overstuffing my stomach and was impressed by my ability to eat. I left to complete my final organizing of mandatory gear in my pack before dessert was served. I still needed to decide if I'd take an extra layer, extra Vfuel gel, and would it be one or two headlamps? Thank god I took two headlamps, I'd need both.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DR5yhlv2egE/VTwd_YiNjCI/AAAAAAAAIOU/jq19S1HIxrI/s1600/984306_10206923048220754_1229903975512343729_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DR5yhlv2egE/VTwd_YiNjCI/AAAAAAAAIOU/jq19S1HIxrI/s1600/984306_10206923048220754_1229903975512343729_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aid stations, mileages/kms</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JuDkjT1LsT8/VTweDTm2vbI/AAAAAAAAIOc/4KpwMs2WD7w/s1600/11149371_10206923065221179_6652022070918855541_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JuDkjT1LsT8/VTweDTm2vbI/AAAAAAAAIOc/4KpwMs2WD7w/s1600/11149371_10206923065221179_6652022070918855541_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used the Ultimate Direction PB Vest, Vfuel Endurance gels, Petzl Nao, Smith glasses, plus some of the mandatory gear.</td></tr></tbody></table>With the unknown race terrain, possible poor weather conditions (80% chance of rain), and distances largely unknown to me and the other runners I felt as though I needed to bring more than I normally would for safety's sake and because I did not want <i><b>any</b></i> reason to DNF. We learned a few days before the event that it would be 8 miles longer than expected, which was harder to handle mentally than I expected. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I knew when I got to 8 miles, I'd shout, <i>100 more miles to goooooooo motherfuckers!!!!</i>&nbsp;(I did) We already had mandatory gear to carry that consisted of a rain jacket, down jacket, medical supplies, food, water carrying capacity, maps, and more. I was sure to add in extra nutrition and waterproof gloves. By the way, don't question the mandatory gear. I used everything except the medical supplies.<br /><br />A bus took us an hour north to the start of the race: a big field with a dirt road and a start line arch. Excitement and fear made the air heavy. Rain began to fall. There was no turning back. This.was.happening. I lined up next to Nikki and Kerrie. I planned to keep them within sight or close for the first half of the race. I'd let them get a bit ahead, but not too far. Veronica Bravo, a talented runner from Chile lined up a bit ahead of us. And then we were off. Veronica took off and Nikki, Kerrie, and I settled into an easy but strong pace.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYq-RzMplIA/VTwzpeyYY7I/AAAAAAAAIP4/J-lj5BAwaiY/s1600/ultrafiord1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GYq-RzMplIA/VTwzpeyYY7I/AAAAAAAAIP4/J-lj5BAwaiY/s1600/ultrafiord1.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait at the start of the race. Picture courtesy <a href="http://www.trailchile.cl/">TrailChile</a>, Matias Bull</td></tr></tbody></table>The first 25k was through cow fields. The ground was very uneven and I was careful to place my feet so that I protected my ankle from sprains, knowing that was a weakness for me. As I approached the aid at 25k, a 4x4 followed me in prompting me to pickup my pace. I entered the aid station and Kerrie and Nikki (Team N&amp;K, as I will call them from here on out) were there, just leaving. <i>Perfecto.</i> I grabbed some gatorade and a few mouthfuls of cup of noodles and left quickly so as to stay as close to Team N&amp;K as possible. I could no longer see them, but I knew they were close. 2:18 had passed in 15.5 miles. We were on a good pace for 108 miles, but I knew that the hard 70k section we were warned about (super technical with a massive 4,500 ft climb) would slow the pace considerably, I just didn't realize by how much.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiUbKp1NDNc/VTwXNjy2lVI/AAAAAAAAILw/0PfPgP5rb5o/s1600/ultrafiord3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiUbKp1NDNc/VTwXNjy2lVI/AAAAAAAAILw/0PfPgP5rb5o/s1600/ultrafiord3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aid station 1, by <a href="http://www.trailchile.cl/">Trail Chile </a>(Matias Bull) Feeling happy!!</td></tr></tbody></table>The trail began to head uphill more weaving in and out of stout, gnarled, and thick trees and I imagined that the views would be nice during the day. It seemed like we were traversing cliffs but the night was endlessly dark and I felt as though I might be on another planet. We immediately began going through very thick brush that towered above my head and cut through my compression socks and capris. Branches grabbed at my bare arms. The branches had no give, hardened as they were to the harsh climate. The "trail" seemed as though it had just been cut from the hills, it was rough, narrow, and at times completely nonexistent. It would slope uphill so strongly at times I would have to grab onto roots and trees to climb. I was hoping this counted as the technical 70k part of the race. Shit. It didn't.<br /><br />I came to an aid station during this section and was dismayed to see that they only had apples, bananas and cereal bars. Oh well. <b><i>Doing an ultra is about making do with whatever comes your way, whether it be internal or external.</i></b> I grabbed 2 half bananas and a cereal bar, filled my Ultimate Direction soft flask put it in my <a href="http://www.ultimatedirection.com/p-630-pb-adventure-vest-20.aspx">Ultimate Direction PB Vest</a> with more gatorade and left quickly. The rain was really coming down and my t-shirt just wouldn't cut it anymore. I put on my zip up technical shirt and waterproof gloves. Sadly they weren't really waterproof.<br /><br />More trails through the dark night and then we were on a road for a long while. I was (for once) thankful to have road. The uneven trail and sharp but short climbs were hard to get into a running rhythm. I cruised on the road. I was having fun! The road began climbing uphill and I was flying high. Nothing could stop me. I was feeling great and had a feeling I would catch some of the ladies on this section. I ran most the road only hiking very briefly on a few sections. As I came around a corner I saw three runners headlamps ahead. They were walking a hill. Excitement began to build as I realized one of the runners was Veronica Bravo. Oh shit. Hoping she was ok, I caught up and asked, <i>everything ok? </i>She was with two other runners, men, and with her limited English and my limited Spanish we said little but she nodded yes. Or I think she did. I jogged past and up the hill. One down, two more ladies to go....<br /><br />I figured Team N &amp; K wasn't too much farther ahead. I was motivated and excited. Another aid station, again very limited in food choices, and I was on my way ready to catch some runners! We immediately turned onto trail and began another big climb. This section went on a long time and I caught another runner, Singapore, a tall man who I would go back in forth with for the rest of the race. We came into the first drop bag spot together, around mile 40, in about 7.5 hours. It would be light in half an hour. I saw race director Stjepan here and he pointed me the way out of the aid station.<br /><br />"What place am I?" I asked.<br /><br />"8th," He said, checking. <br /><br />"Only 7 more to pass," I said, winking.<br /><br />He laughed. I thanked him for the fun course, a courtesy I would not reciprocate at the next drop bag location at 90k (mile ~55), Hosteria Balmaceda. By the time I arrived there, I was frustrated, beaten down, freezing, and angry.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0LpEQcm6N3I/VTwXlbZIbyI/AAAAAAAAINE/Ba60zT2kLxE/s1600/11143162_553985088077354_784015073651051146_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0LpEQcm6N3I/VTwXlbZIbyI/AAAAAAAAINE/Ba60zT2kLxE/s1600/11143162_553985088077354_784015073651051146_o.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matias Bull going through some mud. Not sure why he is smiling. Matias, care to comment on that?!</td></tr></tbody></table>The 15 miles to Hosteria Balmaceda was almost entirely thick, deep mud. It began with a river crossing that destroyed my ipod (RIP ipod) as I stepped into chest deep water crossing a river and a few miles later the really deep mud. Endless soul sucking mud. The mud that made me question the vision of the race. I had no idea there would be so much of it and for so long. A few miles into this section the 100k and 70k runners began passing me and I had to keep stepping off the trail.<br /><br />Let me slow down a second to describe the mud. Imagine a narrow trail that climbs up and down like child's rollercoaster, it's raining and there's water everywhere. Your feet have been wet for almost 10 hours. Each step requires you to navigate mud that in many cases goes up to mid-thigh and requires that you use any trees or rocks nearby to pull yourself out. You are glad your shoes are securely tied on as the mud could very easily eat one of them (happened to one runner), forever lost in the deep mud. Those 15 miles were unforgivingly cold, muddy, and technical. Partway through we came to an "aid station". We were handed 2 candy bars and instructed to dip a styrofoam cup into a open water dispenser for gatorade. There was no water. I wished I could have 4 of those candy bars, <b><i>toughen up buttercup</i></b>. Candy never tasted so good, but I was beginning to feel deficient, I needed hot food. We crossed another deep stream and back into the mud. I'm sorry to all those that heard my cursing.<br /><br />At this point the absurdity of the route and another thigh deep mud crossing had me laughing hysterically. I was like a crazy woman. The French man behind me smiled at my insanity but when I didn't stop laughing he joined in and for a moment everything was ok. After too many hours, to the point where I didn't care what my watch said, I finally arrived at Hosteria Balmaceda. Max, an intern for the race was there. He helped me get soup and my drop bag. <i><b>Nikki just left</b></i> someone said. I felt better hearing this as I thought I'd lost a lot of time on the last section, but apparently we all did.<br /><br />I changed my pants, shirt, everything as fast as I could in the bathroom. Shit. I didn't have any socks in my drop bag! I knew if I put on my mud soiled compression socks I would get blisters. Max looked concerned when I told him. A minute later he handed me the socks off his feet. I didn't know what to say, but I knew I needed them so I put them on- heaven- downed two cups of soup, grabbed my poles and was off to chase down Nikki. Max, I cannot thank you enough.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xsHEE7i9flE/VTwXl6RwtSI/AAAAAAAAINM/T6zGB5_f8y8/s1600/11152703_902116439852185_4186003394109011284_n%2B(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xsHEE7i9flE/VTwXl6RwtSI/AAAAAAAAINM/T6zGB5_f8y8/s1600/11152703_902116439852185_4186003394109011284_n%2B(1).jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel Balmaceda, using Max's socks, changing ALL my clothes. Max you rock. Seriously.</td></tr></tbody></table>I had been dreading the next section. I knew there was a 4,500 foot climb in 4-5 miles and I wasn't looking forward to it after all that mud. The trail began climbing steeply uphill and right away we were off trail, stepping through tall brush, peat bogs, and climbing what could be a staircase straight into the sky. Only it was no staircase. It wasn't even a trail. Halfway up we cleared the low lying clouds and massive towering snow covered peaks framed the sky. It was so beautiful I stopped and took it all in. Sometimes energy comes from the wild places we visit and this was one of those moments. I felt energized.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0A1rqAqWb8/VTwXi3eKzAI/AAAAAAAAIMk/_903QgBERAQ/s1600/10995494_902107143186448_104919542282880739_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0A1rqAqWb8/VTwXi3eKzAI/AAAAAAAAIMk/_903QgBERAQ/s1600/10995494_902107143186448_104919542282880739_n.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br />For this entire climb I had been trading back and forth with a man who spoke only Spanish and who was also wearing five finger shoes. Yes. Five fucking finger shoes. Damn, now that's crazy. We summited the first peak, hitting some snow and wind then began heading into a valley. It was freezing cold and I stopped to put on my jacket. About a half mile down we came to a checkpoint and started up a glacier. Matias Bull, from <a href="http://www.trailchile.cl/">TrailChile</a> who was running the 70k caught up with me and FiveFingers. He led us up the climb, part of which we had to traverse by ropes. Past the ropes we kicked foot prints in the snow climbing steeply and I worried about FiveFingers who was falling back.<br /><br />The wind was blowing hard near the second summit and I was reminded of what trail running was like on Colorado's Hardrock 100 course. <i>This was by far tougher and more dangerous,</i> I thought. Looking over the edge at the top we still seemed so far from Puerto Natales and the finish. We were in the middle of the towering mountains. My heart sunk as I realized it was getting dark and I wanted to be down before I needed my headlamp. Matias took off. I followed him down past a crevasse and I was thankful to be ignorant of the dangers of the mountain. I'm no mountaineer and in this case it played to my favor. I was happily oblivious to any danger. Go, go, go!!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-icEfDghVfS8/VTwfoqesVwI/AAAAAAAAIOo/CuzgK0ZM9hk/s1600/11169732_553984608077402_4698628850169666613_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-icEfDghVfS8/VTwfoqesVwI/AAAAAAAAIOo/CuzgK0ZM9hk/s1600/11169732_553984608077402_4698628850169666613_o.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manu Vilaseca running up the pass en route to winning the women's 70k</td></tr></tbody></table>Another checkpoint and the man taking our numbers had me step across a 1 foot wide break in the snow. A crevasse in the making?! The deep blue and shift in the snow spelled danger but I was on a mission, <i><b>get down before dark</b></i>. The markers led me up some rock scrambling and I was careful to pick my hand and foot placement for fear of falling far below into the glacier. The next section was lots of tumbling, butt sliding, and skiing down snowfields and through streams on steep downhills. I caught Matias and we had fun racing down a few snow fields, <i>Wanna race? Yes! Ha!!!!</i> We played and laughed. We waited for Fivefingers, donned our headlamps at a checkpoint (none of the checkpoints had food or water) and were instructed to go "that way." Fog and darkness like a blanket of wool had rolled in and Matias told us he wanted to stick together for safety and to navigate the tough section. He seemed to be the most experienced and I think I speak for both myself and FiveFingers in saying I was thankful for his guidance. We were a team for the time being, competition fell away like scree. Finally we were on flat terrain, a mess of peat bogs and snow and thick fog that obscured everything but a few feet ahead of us. The markers were almost impossible to see. Then we got lost. For 2 hours.<br /><br />We followed a river down the valley a ways, then returned back up still unable to find markers, and then back down again. We were standing in the cold with water up to our ankles, defeated. Where would we go? <i>Let's climb that peak over there and see what we can see.</i> So we went up, up, up. Nothing. We slid down it another way and for the 10th (or was it the 100th time?) I fell hard on a steep muddy embankment slamming my head into the hill behind me. I sat down. Matias sat next to me.<i> Maybe we should wait here for help </i>he said. <i>No. I'll freeze</i> I responded. <i>Let's go back to the last marker we saw again.</i> We reluctantly set back again. I felt my race, the competition, my dream slipping away from me. It was survival now. I was devastated.<br /><br />FiveFingers, Matias and I found another man during that time who was also lost. While standing in the snow deciding what to do, I saw lights up the hill. We ran toward them hoping to find the route. despite our yelling for help and flashing lights at the runners, the group continued on without us and we were luckily able to follow. Then we saw the markers! Oh sweet markers! Back on course. I took off, Matias kept up. In a half a mile we came to a checkpoint. <i>Do you have food?</i>&nbsp;I asked the aid station. I was starving. <i>No, you can get water from the creek. </i>Damn it!<br /><br />I was on fire, angry at myself for being lost for so long and disappointed to have no food. <i>Matias, I have to GO,</i> I said. I ran the next 7 miles fueled by a desire for hot food and to be out of the woods. I did not see Matias again, and I caught and dropped about 10 runners. I was a woman on a mission to be finished with this race. I got to another checkpoint with just a bag of trail mix on the ground and again instructions to get water from the stream if we needed it. Ugh. No. I had been hoping for more food, a real aid station. I grabbed a handful of peanuts and raisins and felt my spirits sink. There was still another 7 miles to our drop bags at mile 81.<br /><br />It seems like I should have arrived at mile 81 aid station a while ago, like half a day ago to be honest. I'd bonked, weaved like a drunk for miles, adding precious kilometers to the already 14km long section. I had to keep sitting with head on hands dizzy with hunger and thirst, only to quickly force myself into a shuffle the last 7 miles on a painfully long 15 mile segment that followed on the heels of being lost for 2 hours. I was counting my steps hoping to estimate how far I'd travelled. It was impossible to know however as my Garmin had died while I was lost on the mountain and my mind was gone, gone to a dark place.<br /><br />My usual prodigious ability to estimate distance had disappeared like the reflective course markings had just 8 miles ago in the thick fog that rolled in with nightfall after summiting and descending the highest peak on the course. My mind was on a steady decline with each additional mud patch and steep (we call these hills "Chinscrapers" in Washington State) stretch of trail that lay before me like a shimmering road in the desert. A desert that stretches as far as the eye can see-- only my desert here was made of water, mud, roots, and endless kilometers that had been cut into a trail so recently that it felt like we were traveling off trail. These kilometers that had no care that they should be just 6/10 of a mile. No, these kilometers were independent mother fuckers making a new name for themselves, the hipsters of the trail world. For all I could tell they might be 1.6 miles each or 2.6 miles, instead of the usual 0.6 miles.<br /><br />As my mind tried to accept that a kilometer was not a kilometer but rather a distance quite independent of logic and measurement, another long stretch of shoe eating, thigh sucking mud came into view and spit me out into a river cold enough that I wondered if perhaps it was snow and I was hallucinating. My poles dug into the steep bank on the other side of the river in a n effort to propel myself up another Chinscraper and my Altra Lone Peak 2.0's gripped the clay-like mud for a moment before sinking mid calf into the cloudy soup. At that moment I broke down and cried. I sobbed for my poor broken body, for my lungs full of phlegm, for my race that I was sure was gone. And I kept trucking on. There was simply no other choice.<br /><br />A light slowly began illuminating my back as another runner began to catch up with my seemingly drunken shuffle toward the next checkpoint. It was Singapore. His tall and lanky form settled in behind me and I moved over to let him pass. <i>How far do you think we've gone?</i> We had 12km to go from the last checkpoint and i thought we must have gone about 10k already, I'd been counting steps afterall. <i>Maybe 5km</i> he said. I felt like crying, and after he passed and was out of range, I did. I could hardly believe my estimate could be off by so much. There was nothing to do but continue.<br /><br />Honestly I was worried. Worried that I could not make it another 7km. I was having some trouble breathing because my chest was congested and I couldn't seem to cough the congestion out leaving me with the ability to breathe only as deep as mid-chest, wheezing my way toward the aid station. Knowing that I was farther than expected I decided to fill my bottle with river water for the 3rd time that stretch. I choked down a gel and emptied half the bottle. I couldn't let myself get any more dehydrated. the last real aid station had been at mile 55, a good 22 miles ago that included a 4,500 foot climb, glacier traversing, and being lost for 2 hrs to boot. I <i>needed</i> to get to the next checkpoint!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKFWvJEDY1s/VTwnpvb1d-I/AAAAAAAAIPI/osuZgul3_FY/s1600/11128853_10206889131128158_1360420710324536487_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKFWvJEDY1s/VTwnpvb1d-I/AAAAAAAAIPI/osuZgul3_FY/s1600/11128853_10206889131128158_1360420710324536487_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's about right</td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was in that 7km that I accepted this experience. Acceptance is a funny thing because it didn't make my journey any easier or prettier nor did it clean up my language as I cursed at each mud pit and stream crossing, but it gave me the confidence that I would complete this beast. I knew I had to keep marching on for my own sanity. Even though the journey was stripping me of my usual reality and all the comforts of daily life, it was giving me back my life. A life that could only thrive on the edge of what is possible, because without these intense adventures, I am nothing. Without them I feel dead and it's a death that was slowly eating at me through my two DNFs this year. Was I tough enough?<br /><br />These pivotal experiences that define ultra adventuring are what I love about the sport. This trail of endless kilometers was the gritty moment of truth, a moment that separated the mere survivors from the conquerors. I<b> was going to be a conqueror, whatever that looked like. Each thigh-high-mud-sucking step I used as mortar to place bricks, one on top of another, until I created a castle. It would be a home fit for a conqueror.</b><br /><br />Lights in the distance meant that I was close to the aid station. It still looked so far away! The trail weaved me into the brush, out of the brush and finally along a stream as though a farm wife was sewing a patchwork quilt. I paused unsure where the course went. Glancing all around me I spotted something large and smooth, the size of a big dog running toward me. I thought I must be out of my mind, no big surprise since I'd been on the trail now for two nights and a day. This was no hallucination however and as it got dangerously close, I realized with alarm that it was a puma.<br /><br />I quickly waved my poles at the big cat yelling <i><b>Go AWAY! Hey! Go!</b></i> I stood tall and confident shifting my body quickly so that I was facing it head on. It swerved mid dash away from me and about 25 feet away to a berm where its eyes glowed large as teacups, or so it seemed. I kept yelling "<i>Go away,</i>" but the cat didn't seem at all disturbed by my yelling. It turned its head and suddenly even in the beam of my light, it was gone. Then back again as its eyes were again illuminated by the turn of its head in my headlamp. Then it ran at me again.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbVH8DSYITc/VTwo7JOXgSI/AAAAAAAAIPQ/0wspM_d1uFs/s1600/Puma-in-Torres-by-Richard-Zahren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbVH8DSYITc/VTwo7JOXgSI/AAAAAAAAIPQ/0wspM_d1uFs/s1600/Puma-in-Torres-by-Richard-Zahren.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A puma in Torres del Paine National Park, photo courtesy <a href="http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/blog/behind-the-shot/2014/02/behind-the-shot-puma-in-torres-by-richard-zahren-torres-del-paine-national-park-chilean-patagonia.html#.VTwpCK1Viko">Richard Zahren</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Alarmed, I raised my poles yelling at the cat and slapping the poles hard against each other. Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang! The cat was just unsure enough about this mud covered stick armed spider creature to retreat again to the berm, and in the second it took to glance over to see where the other runners were the cat was coming back at me. Again, I repeated my chant and pole-arm dance. In the distance, two headlamps got bigger as two runners slowly approached. Quickly, I decided to hold the cat off until the runners arrived then hopefully we could determine where the route went with the safety of numbers.<br /><br />I began yelling at the approaching runners. As they arrived the cat lurked on the berm it's eyes glowing, occasionally turning its head to disappear from the beam of light of my headlamp. The two men quickly found the route as it crossed a river. Glancing behind me I followed the men toward the aid station. A quick as it happened, the ordeal was over. Wtf...<br /><br />Walking into the aid station was like coming home from a car accident. I was equally glad to have real sustenance as I was to be alive and walking still after a full night of running, a day and almost another full night. It was 4:15 in the morning and it would be light in 4 hours. <i>Drop bag? Yes. How are you? Damn good now. I'm in a daze. I'm alive. ALIVE.&nbsp;</i>As I entered the warm building, so thankful to be here, I saw Nikki and Kerrie. I was confused and impressed. In the state I was in I thought they had finished and were hanging out, maybe to help, maybe to cheer me to the finish! I smiled and asked them how the race went. They did not answer but seemed to ignore me. I didn't read too much into it, partly because I couldn't wait to change my clothes and get hot food and partly because I am used to the attitudes you sometimes see in ultras between competitors. But I was confused.<br /><br />I changed and grabbed a bowl of pasta. Nikki and Kerrie were gone. It was then I was told they were sleeping and had decided to drop from the race. <i>What?!</i> I was shocked. There was a marathon left, all on dirt roads. Someone said they were dropping because they thought the race was too dangerous. While I was grabbing my gear to head out, I talked to Nikki. She was very angry and upset. She thought there were runners dying out on the mountain, or lost. I commiserated with her, that had been an outrageously tough section. I needed to finish I told her, feeling some pressure to agree with her assessment. I may have chosen the most difficult race I could have to get my finish but goddamnit I was going to finish no matter what. As I was leaving I glanced back a the aid station and caught another puma in my headlamp. Wow. I felt no fear, I was beyond that. I walked away into the dark alone.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lilMcvjEfjQ/VTwXPkoJXMI/AAAAAAAAIMM/HqbPg9Iq0tQ/s1600/ultrafiord8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lilMcvjEfjQ/VTwXPkoJXMI/AAAAAAAAIMM/HqbPg9Iq0tQ/s1600/ultrafiord8.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely and fast Veronica Rojas and me at mile 81 aid. She ran the 70k.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>As the sun rose, I felt new, reborn. I was just going for a nice little marathon in the morning. I'd think of it like it was a new day, not mile 81 in the toughest ultra of my life. About 3 miles down the road I caught up with a girl, Karina Palomino, who was on her way to finishing the 100k. We began chatting like we were friends from school. I could swear I knew her maybe from another life? Or maybe she was an angel or apparition sent to keep me company or me to keep her company on our long journey home. Before long I had to stop, this was the beginning of horrible stomach pain that left me squatting in the bushes and throwing up. I told Angel Karina go ahead. I'll catch up I said.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nuYfdQhqayw/VTwXLe6Ns0I/AAAAAAAAILI/4sLEggOrjrA/s1600/ultrafiord10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nuYfdQhqayw/VTwXLe6Ns0I/AAAAAAAAILI/4sLEggOrjrA/s1600/ultrafiord10.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My angel Karina and me, having breakfast after the race.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>More gut wrenching in the bushes. My stomach was done. I was at the same time gut wrenching and also so tired I fell asleep running. I curled up on the side of the road. I needed to rest. Just 1 minute. Maybe 5. But I didn't have an alarm and I was afraid I would not wake up, so I forced myself onward. Being unable to stay awake was the most painful experience of the race. I could see lights flashing, rainbows and all around me, runners, none of which were real. The hallucinations were too much. I ran on, not wanting to be passed by anyone. I'd come this far, I wanted to keep my position! To stay awake I would slap myself and running helped, but ultimately I just had to keep going and weather this new storm.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-meSj-2ujJpU/VTwXKCV9uQI/AAAAAAAAIK0/sF3qpt0xnqg/s1600/Ultrafiord2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-meSj-2ujJpU/VTwXKCV9uQI/AAAAAAAAIK0/sF3qpt0xnqg/s1600/Ultrafiord2.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying into the finish, last 100 meters! It's a feeling like nothing else. You think the moment will never come and when it does it is like a tattoo in your soul.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>During the final 4 miles I caught the Angel Karina again. I was so happy to see her and finally I felt awake! It suddenly donned on me I was going to finish this damn race, and I was going to win it! The moment was rich with satisfaction and the trials and tribulations for the previous 100+ miles no longer mattered. My journey was about to be done and it felt so fucking amazing! I finished in just over 37 hours, taking 1st woman and 5th overall in the toughest, longest, and most dangerous race I have ever done.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-er1dBSVJFAg/VTws4gt8BQI/AAAAAAAAIPo/ayGWDKVmdSI/s1600/994460_837655859603714_7368279262125878852_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-er1dBSVJFAg/VTws4gt8BQI/AAAAAAAAIPo/ayGWDKVmdSI/s1600/994460_837655859603714_7368279262125878852_n.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing! See that emotion! That is so real.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yYuxQJL6aEI/VTwXKSHiqNI/AAAAAAAAIK4/aALU-o0bcd8/s1600/11154787_554087528067110_2861779631999249245_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yYuxQJL6aEI/VTwXKSHiqNI/AAAAAAAAIK4/aALU-o0bcd8/s1600/11154787_554087528067110_2861779631999249245_o.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top 6 finishers of the 108 mi/173k race!&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OPXLiMxc8Wo/VTwnmRASHWI/AAAAAAAAIPA/SiT3LsPVuDw/s1600/11115787_10153182179404043_6631919180770178564_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OPXLiMxc8Wo/VTwnmRASHWI/AAAAAAAAIPA/SiT3LsPVuDw/s1600/11115787_10153182179404043_6631919180770178564_o.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The amazing runners I shared the last marathon with: Rodrigo Lara, Oscar Olguin, me, and Karina Palomino</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CvKyZcx3SUM/VTwqre8OnPI/AAAAAAAAIPc/_grcQHgS52c/s1600/11168473_10206960819125003_9136310189092086537_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CvKyZcx3SUM/VTwqre8OnPI/AAAAAAAAIPc/_grcQHgS52c/s1600/11168473_10206960819125003_9136310189092086537_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating the same night after finishing-- we'd been up far too long. Me,<span style="background-color: white; color: #9197a3; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</span><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="background-color: white; color: #9197a3; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><a aria-describedby="js_q" aria-haspopup="true" aria-owns="js_p" class="taggee" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=1556288952&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.10206960819125003" data-tag="1556288952" href="https://www.facebook.com/scott.nickerson.908" id="js_r" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Scott Nickerson</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #9197a3; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">,&nbsp;</span><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="background-color: white; color: #9197a3; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><a class="taggee" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=1359747354&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.10206960819125003" data-tag="1359747354" href="https://www.facebook.com/gobroncobilly" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Jeff Browning</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #9197a3; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">,</span><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><a class="taggee" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=1265178016&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.10206960819125003" data-tag="1265178016" href="https://www.facebook.com/ContrerasMedinatrail" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Felipe Andres Contreras Medina</a><span style="color: #9197a3;">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">(I think soon to be the best 100 mile runner in the world)</span><span style="color: #9197a3;">,&nbsp;</span><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="color: #9197a3;"><a class="taggee" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=848180354&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.10206960819125003" data-tag="848180354" href="https://www.facebook.com/enzo.ferrari.98" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Enzo Ferrari</a></span><span style="color: #9197a3;">,&nbsp;</span><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="color: #9197a3;"><a class="taggee" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=682024262&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.10206960819125003" data-tag="682024262" href="https://www.facebook.com/matias.bull" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Matias Bull</a></span><span style="color: #9197a3;">,&nbsp;</span><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="color: #9197a3;"><a aria-describedby="js_n" aria-haspopup="true" aria-owns="js_m" class="taggee" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=709534331&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.10206960819125003" data-tag="709534331" href="https://www.facebook.com/elotrojc" id="js_o" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Solo JC</a></span><span style="color: #9197a3;">,&nbsp;</span><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="color: #9197a3;"><a aria-describedby="js_t" aria-haspopup="true" aria-owns="js_s" class="taggee" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=557129928&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.10206960819125003" data-tag="557129928" href="https://www.facebook.com/Feisbuctecambioelmail" id="js_u" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Alvaro De La Barra</a></span><span style="color: #9197a3;">,&nbsp;</span><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="color: #9197a3;"><a class="taggee" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=501692011&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.10206960819125003" data-tag="501692011" href="https://www.facebook.com/karinaPalominoM" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Karina Palomino</a></span><span style="color: #9197a3;">,</span><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="color: #9197a3;"><a class="taggee" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=1496551032&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.10206960819125003" data-tag="1496551032" href="https://www.facebook.com/paola.castelvecchio" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Paola Castelvecchio</a></span><span style="color: #9197a3;">,&nbsp;</span><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="color: #9197a3;"><a class="taggee" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=606109723&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.10206960819125003" data-tag="606109723" href="https://www.facebook.com/veronica.bravovergara.9" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Veronica Bravo Vergara</a></span><span style="color: #9197a3;">,</span><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="color: #9197a3;"><a class="taggee" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=100000207846757&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.10206960819125003" data-tag="100000207846757" href="https://www.facebook.com/mauripides" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Mauricio Quintanilla</a></span><span style="color: #9197a3;">&nbsp;and&nbsp;</span><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="color: #9197a3;"><a class="taggee" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=522862270&amp;type=mediatag&amp;media_info=6.10206960819125003" data-tag="522862270" href="https://www.facebook.com/carolina.lioi" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Carolina Izurieta Lioi</a></span><span style="color: #9197a3;">&nbsp;at&nbsp;</span><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag withTagItem tagItem" style="color: #9197a3;"><a class="taggee" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=364468863693651" href="https://www.facebook.com/basecamppatagonia" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Base Camp</a></span><span style="color: #9197a3;">. #UltraParty</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>Want more?</b></span></div><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="p1"><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1">For more daily fitness ideas, inspiration, and humor, check out my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Facebook Page</span></a></span></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1">Yoga based core and strength exercises on my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail"><span class="s2">YouTube Channel</span></a></span></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1">A little crazy on&nbsp;<a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun"><span class="s2">Instagram</span></a></span></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1">Short, sweet and sassy on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Twitter</span></a></span></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1">Entertaining 5 million at a time on&nbsp;<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts"><span class="s2">Google+</span></a></span></span></div></div><span class="fbPhotoTagListTag tagItem" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Candicenoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-3257414106820798222015-03-29T14:01:00.003-07:002015-04-01T19:35:13.049-07:00Dirtster Meets the Wizard & Other Explicit Shenanigans There's some sort of truth to this March Madness and it has nothing to do with Basketball teams and only a little to do with the Twitter handle <a href="https://twitter.com/asgarbagecan">@asgarbagecan</a>&nbsp;and a mistaken #TwitterWar I started with ultrarunning's <a href="http://www.devonyanko.com/">best female marathoner</a>. However, none of that madness is anywhere near as interesting as the story I am about to tell.<br /><br />In my world, the real madness began when I left early March to live on the road, destined for the fantastically warm Southwest and all the softening of the brain, insanity, and intoxication of spirit that was to come in those too brief three weeks of freedom. The trip consisted of work on the Bigfoot 200 &amp; Arizona 200 courses, a race to compete in, and playing/exploring new trails.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Apb3fYphw8o/VRej24xvY2I/AAAAAAAAIH8/UrupT3tf5Gg/s1600/randle1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Apb3fYphw8o/VRej24xvY2I/AAAAAAAAIH8/UrupT3tf5Gg/s1600/randle1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fastpacking the Bigfoot 200 course, Pompey Peak</td></tr></tbody></table>First, there was work to be had. &nbsp;Oh work, it was at its best at that moment because I was getting to be on the trail and out from in front of the computer. This kind of work is like that feeling of almost being on top of the mountain while traversing one of its ridges, trees like a carpet of wrinkles in the distance, the ground so far away I could almost be rock climbing. It's a combustible mixture of danger, excitement, and concentration. There's nothing like that <i>feeling</i>&nbsp;of being high and it makes me wonder why I'd ever want anything man made again.<br /><br /><b>Cutting the Edge: Race Directing 2015</b><br /><b><br /></b>It's with a sense of exploration and need for danger that feeds me in both my work and personal life and what better place to experience it than on the road? This trip began with a new camping car and plans to fastpack a race course the first week. Freedom took the shape of a boxy black Honda Element with seats taken out for sleeping quarters, a skybox, no cruise control, driving way too fast, and a FM ipod transmitter for my music. Failure would mean far more in this endeavor than in just any old fast packing trip. I had to establish a new route for the end of the Bigfoot 200. To read more about why, check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.change.org/p/pacific-crest-trail-association-united-states-forest-service-allow-trail-running-events-on-the-pacific-crest-trail-pct">my petition</a>&nbsp;and learn about how an organization wants to ban events on the Pacific Crest Trail.<br /><br />As a race director who takes on some of the biggest projects in the trail event world (see <a href="http://www.tahoe200.com/">Tahoe 200</a>, <a href="http://www.bigfoot200.com/">Bigfoot 200</a>, &amp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Arizona-200/906398989431791?ref=bookmarks">Arizona 200</a>) I have started to feel a bit like Atlas, holding the world on my shoulders. Only it's a dream world that through my dedication comes alive with adventures, mountains, wild streams, endless trails and exhilaration laced fatigue. Occasionally mythical creatures like Bigfoot, the Wonderland Puma, and on this trip, a Wizard make an appearance in these adventures. Carrying my dreams, heavy as they may be at times, makes me stronger and capable of more and more. I wonder how the world can keep expanding exponentially for me and yet I don't question the process, <i>I just go for it</i>.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BEgw59RdDQU/VRhbQz66WKI/AAAAAAAAIIs/dMtZ8U_GBs0/s1600/candice%2Brd%2Btahoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BEgw59RdDQU/VRhbQz66WKI/AAAAAAAAIIs/dMtZ8U_GBs0/s1600/candice%2Brd%2Btahoe.jpg" height="320" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-Race talk before the inaugural 2014 Tahoe 200</td></tr></tbody></table>Typically Race Directing consists of organizing people and supplies, purchasing swag/supplies, public speaking, course design/marking, however, I consider myself more of a dreamweaver than anything. Dreamweaving is the part I am especially good at. Good enough to feel that knock of fate that makes my work feel like a religion of trails: a map I'd follow no matter what the world around me looked like or expressed, I'm blind to obstacles and clear about the desired outcome.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal.</i> ---Vince Lombardi</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9F4Lynh-S0/VRhbQ00gnRI/AAAAAAAAIIw/g2O5DMBdM5o/s1600/candice%2Brd%2Bcle%2Belum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9F4Lynh-S0/VRhbQ00gnRI/AAAAAAAAIIw/g2O5DMBdM5o/s1600/candice%2Brd%2Bcle%2Belum.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Race Directing Work</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Somehow, by creating the first single loop 200 mile in the USA, the Tahoe 200, I brought into the light a movement of ultra-ultra distance events that has been slowly growing as more runners want to test their limits beyod 100 miles. These outrageously long races aren't easy (by any definition of the word!) to direct or compete in. They are sure to leave their recipients begging for mercy all the while using their last good hand to type their initials into Ultrasignup. Into the dream an adventurous few go! Creating their own adventure out of that spiderweb of dreams I'd created and <i>living</i>, I mean like <i>real live fucking living</i>! The Tahoe 200 and Bigfoot 200 and other events of their breed of crazy shouted out for an extreme need for freedom and a propensity to enjoy exhilaration laced fatigue, masochism or whatever you call that human "Peeling of the Onion." Who are we, we people of the trail that just crave more: more time on the trail, more pain, more distance, more hallucinations, more freedom? I wondered.</div><br /><b>Week 1: Rerouting the Bigfoot 200 &amp; Driving South West</b><br /><br />Fast packing never goes how you expect it to go. Plan away then plan to throw away the plan. Which is how the Bigfoot fastpacking went when I ran into 10-20 feet of snow over the trail just 10 miles into the 100 mile route I'd devised. Read about my&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wilddefined.com/2015/03/when-adventure-goes-wrong-fastpacking.html" target="_blank">fastpacking gone wrong trip here</a>.&nbsp;In all honesty, I really only needed to do about 25 miles of trail. The extra 75 miles was for fun, a "fun padding" of sorts, and because I needed to somehow loop around to my car by the end of the thing. No one was there to pick me up, shuttle me point to point, or save me if something went wrong. Just the way I like it: a personal religious fucking experience with no intermediaries to tame the process or outcome. With the fast packing work behind me and a new end of the Bigfoot 200 course plotted and approved I was off again, for Moab this time.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3r9Qgw6DuH4/VRemfRhNv9I/AAAAAAAAIIM/vSg4lL8RMFQ/s1600/DSCN1024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3r9Qgw6DuH4/VRemfRhNv9I/AAAAAAAAIIM/vSg4lL8RMFQ/s1600/DSCN1024.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trail quickly became impossible to follow without use of my GPS on my Bigfoot 200 scouting run.</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Moab &amp; Monument Valley</b><br /><b><br /></b>Driving was like being at a good concert where you have to sit in your seat the whole time, but damn is that muuuusic was good. I needed some time to think, or maybe it was time to not think, to have a singular purpose rather than my usual Olympic level multi-tasking. My iphone 5s was encased in a pink lifeproof case defaulting to a "note" signal with every message and I was just driving, the messages piling up like paperwork on the Forest Service's desk. &nbsp;<i><b>Now . we . are . talking. &nbsp;This is what I was meant to do. &nbsp;No, not drive across the country! To experience life. Let's go.</b></i>&nbsp;I was heading to Moab to play for a few days on new trails then to Monument Valley in Arizona to run a race that I shouldn't run in a place I was ready to experience. Which is how the race went, in a nutshell of sand and sun.<br /><br />After the running event that ended for me before its full experience was to be had and yet so many miles of sand, sunshine, fellow travelers on the trail of "Peeling Their Onion" and red mountains that more resembled shines to some ancient God than piles of rock and sand, it was time to move on. I know the feeling of <i>needing to leave</i>&nbsp;all too well. It means leaving people who love me, people who care about me, people who barely know me but want more, leaving the experience of understanding a place and its people because I need the simplicity of the road and trail and the introverted experience of sailing my own ship no matter what. It's me and the highway, not me or the highway.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6oqtuSPPwA/VRenFbxLc0I/AAAAAAAAIIY/IDZjTCq0D5o/s1600/monument%2Bvalley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6oqtuSPPwA/VRenFbxLc0I/AAAAAAAAIIY/IDZjTCq0D5o/s1600/monument%2Bvalley.jpg" height="297" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument Valley, picture courtesy <a href="http://www.grandcircletrails.com/monument-valley-general-info/#photos">Ultra Adventures</a></td></tr></tbody></table>With all those thoughts of leaving Monument Valley, I was gone with a billow of red dust and coffee grinds, fallen mistakenly from their filter telling the story of the Bigfoot 200 like a light roast out of Seattle: mapping my softening of brain madness farther and farther South like Hansel and Gretel's enchanted but dangerous walk in the woods. Next stop: Flagstaff. And why not? It was 4pm leaving Monument Valley with just a 3 hour drive to Flag (2.5 for me, remember no cruise control). There's no better place to car camp than a town with excellent microbreweries. Onward.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g92JIcLTReM/VRejn7-tLYI/AAAAAAAAIHk/XSzn_ZTYr00/s1600/FL2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g92JIcLTReM/VRejn7-tLYI/AAAAAAAAIHk/XSzn_ZTYr00/s1600/FL2.JPG" height="320" width="179" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>What Happens in Flagstaff...</b><br /><br />Which is how I found myself sneaking out of a brewery in Flagstaff at 9 p.m. to avoid an awkward "Not Interested" situation when my unwanted consort left for the restroom. It seemed like a reasonable time to check out one more of the many local breweries in town <i>a solas</i>.<br /><br />Place #2, not to be named for fear of being exposed for the brewery jumping dirtster that I am, had some reasonably good live music. After some interesting insights into the local music scene, I was again free from man made buildings and brew and walking 2" high and in a skirt of all things, all the while trying futilely to find my rental: a brick two room mirage of escape from the evening, that eluded me.<br /><br />Within a few minutes, I stopped in my tracks by my own inadequacy: I had no idea where I was. Had I walked this way or that way? Of all the places I have been lost, this was surely one of the lonliest. I'd rather be lost on the mountain that in the city. At that second that was spiked by fear, I paused, surely looking lost and I heard from the other side of the street, "Do you need help?"<br /><br /><b>Dirtster Meets the Wizard</b><br /><br />I glanced over and immediately I knew that I did need help, at least from this man. Breweries or not, 3 a.m. or not, he was clearly a picture of Flagstaff hospitality. Without further ado, I handed him the keys to my room. Before you judge, it was all in an effort to determine where my rental was. I'm not the type of person to rent some bullshit hotel cookie cut from a mother fucking strip mall. &nbsp;I want the real deal: a quirky place with a $5 deposit hard key with your room number taped on one side and and shower that takes 10 minutes to warm up. After a minute of surprising clarity, I was able to explain the details of my hotel accurately enough to my new and very helpful friend that he quickly found my building. <i>What are you a freaking Wizard?</i> I asked, not sure if I spoke out loud of just in my head.<br /><br />We parted ways after exchanging numbers so we could run the next day (Yes the Wizard runs and apparently you have to be out at 3 a.m. on a Saturday to find single runner guys. No wonder I have been single for a while). As I tried to open the door to my room, fishing in my purse and coming up short, I realized I did not have my keys and that the tall handsome fellow I'd just met must have them. After weeks of sleeping in the Element it was a pretty scary thought to miss out on a 'real' bed. <br /><br />My new friend, the Wizard, was just across the street considering exactly where to place a not so private piss on the neighboring building or bushes when I interrupted him with,<b><i> "Hey do you have my keys still?"</i></b>&nbsp;Yes, of course he did. Again we were propelled into communicating with each other, all the way to my room. We sat in my brick room talking for hours until I said I must sleep, making it a strangely short night under the circumstances. Afterall, it's just me and the highway and trail and so I said goodbye and despite last minute promises to run the next day, I knew I would leave to avoid any real connection. I had too many plans to be distracted.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MrBLVLGsDKU/VRejoZNmifI/AAAAAAAAIHs/ZrIAXCNWN7c/s1600/FL3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MrBLVLGsDKU/VRejoZNmifI/AAAAAAAAIHs/ZrIAXCNWN7c/s1600/FL3.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the AZ trail as I scouted the AZ 200 course</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Escape &amp; Discovery in Arizona</b><br /><br />I left for Sedona as fast as I could that same day to be free, completely free from anyone else's expectations. I remember some texting in that process of me leaving as I canceled my plans to run with the Wizard: I was too busy. That night in Sedona, the town of expensive hotels, beautiful trails and overwhelming impersonality, I felt that I'd made a mistake to run away from Flagstaff so quickly.<br /><br />I'm not one to stay a course that doesn't feel right. I follow my heart at every turn no matter what logic says, and the few times I haven't I correct quickly. With a fear in my heart, a fear of closeness, but a greater feeling of regret that needed to be righted&nbsp;I drove back to Flagstaff to continue to experience the city of mountains, altitude, desert, and brewery-fuckin-college town-country two step-brain numbing-mountain running-Rob Krar single track bliss that is essentially Flag. And to see the Wizard.<br /><br />The Wizard and I agreed to meet that St. Patty's night with some of his friends and one of mine, a dirtbagging woman, Joelle, I'd met the night before. AS the night went on, our group whittled down from 10 or so to just me and the Wizard and Joelle and her new companion, Solar Power, at a Irish bar DJ party. It wasn't long before the Wizard and I were warned that we would be kicked out for our dancing antics. The Wizard has some moves, let me tell you. I mean like real dance moves.<br /><br />You'd think that a warning would quell our dancing, however, we laughed mischieviously at Mr. Security and the Wizard whispered that I could do a flip on the dance floor. Naturally I agreed, with no prior flipping experience. In a moment that hung in the air, much like I'm sure my lacy black underwear did, upside down, the Wizard flipped me backwards head over heels in a stunt I cannot even imagine doing sober. <br /><br /><i><b>If you do a flip in a bar and no one sees your underwear, did it really happen?</b></i> My guess is as good as yours. All I know is that we were not kicked out after that stunt, more magic perhaps? The night ran into the next day like black felt tip in water and it was soon time to go. But first, just one more round on the dance floor, so I set down my bag and we took one minute to twirl around or in my case, double step on the Wizard's foot (he was very understanding). Solar Power and Joelle were still at the bar and as we started to head out together, I realized someone had grabbed my entire bag: credit cards, phone, ID, cash, everything.<br /><br />Sinking, sinking, sober into the seriousness of the moment, a moment that had just been so carefree and was now heavy as wet cotton. Solar Power let me call my bank from his downtown office to cancel my cards, but I was left with the problem of how to get into my hotel room at 2 a.m. with no key. Which is why this little fact came in so handy: the Wizard, in his usual Wizardly ways also happens to be quite beautifully tall. Which gave me an idea and simultaneously made me wonder if I somehow knew this whole debacle would happen in the first place. I'd left the bathroom window ajar earlier that evening and I remember thinking that it would be good to leave open just in case I got locked out of my room. The Wizard's height plus a window being open meant that we might have a fighting chance at getting into my room.<br /><br />When we arrived at the brick building, we surveyed the situation. The window was above the Wizard's eye level, but not out of reach. He was more nimble that I'd expected, getting his leg on the small ledge with a little lifting of his other leg from me. Lucky for both of us, he was tall <i>and</i> slender, as no extra calories would be funneled through that small window, your typical fast runner body. The Wizard was in the room and unlocking my front door like he'd been breaking and entering his entire juvenile lifespan. Somehow that was an attractive trait at 3 a.m. in the morning sans keys.<br /><br />Despite my bag and all its innards (phone, debit cards, ID, cash) being stolen and the subsequent trip to Verizon that very next morning to replace the phone I somehow managed to survive. I know right?! The plan was to go to Verizon to get a new phone, then begin the long 23 hr drive back to Washington from Arizona.<br /><br />Going to Verizon was like stepping into a time vortex. The employees were comically lacking in ability to help me replace my phone. The Wizard accompanied me and managed to make me laugh between my quiet cursing of mobile phone carriers and being jockied around the office like a new secretary. Without my ID I had very limited options for getting a new phone or replacing my stolen one.<br /><br />Me to the Wizard: Don't you want to leave? This is obviously going to take a while.<br /><br />Wizard: Yes, with you.<br /><br />Me: Ha! Yes, well... they've already asked me to prove who I am by having me answer my secret questions, making me show them the title to my car, printing out my insurance card as proof, and still won't let me get a phone. Next thing they're going to make me run a fucking ultra or design a 200 miler in 2 hours.<br /><br /><b>Fucking Verizon</b>. 3 hours later I walked out with the Wizard, a new iPhone 6, and a bill that makes a new home mortgage look like panhandling pocket change. It was already 2:30 in the afternoon and it seemed like a good time to finally have breakfast. The Wizard in his usual laid back understated hospitality offered to make food at his place. How was it that we kept ending up at each other's doorstep, or in this case kitchen stool? I never decline an offer from a 28 year old to make me breakfast and so I found myself enjoying eggs and bacon in the shadow of Arizona's Mt. Humphrey, Mt. Elden, and the San Francisco Peaks.<br /><br /><b>Returning to Washington</b><br /><br />Just when it felt right to stay in a place, it was again time to leave. It's been a while since I've had mixed feeling about leaving a place because of a person. It's usually because of the place itself, its trails, and mountains. My drive back to Washington began that same night of my 'breakfast for dinner' shenanigans with the Wizard. After a very lingering goodbye to the Wizard at sunset, I was off shooting through the night in my Element, a satellite orbiting the earth, sure that I'd be back around to this spot again.<br /><br />The journey home was an ultramarathon of scenery and 90 m.p.h. cruising and hallucinations brought on by the night and monotony. My vehicle might as well have been manned by a the universe itself as it rocketed North, but in this case it was just a determined High Priestess of 200s. Did I mention the Wizard knows how to dance?<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LcX6niK9rQU" width="560"></iframe> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d4Jq3VGgYW0/VRejok4OJ7I/AAAAAAAAIHo/XkBCh5LTj1Y/s1600/FL1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d4Jq3VGgYW0/VRejok4OJ7I/AAAAAAAAIHo/XkBCh5LTj1Y/s1600/FL1.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;9 mile run in Fairyland at Bryce National Park on the way home</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Want More?</b></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">For more daily fitness ideas, inspiration, and humor, check out my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Facebook Page</span></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Yoga based core and strength exercises on my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail"><span class="s2">YouTube Channel</span></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">A little crazy on&nbsp;<a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun"><span class="s2">Instagram</span></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Short, sweet and sassy on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Twitter</span></a></span></div>Entertaining 5 million at a time on&nbsp;<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts"><span class="s2">Google+</span></a>Candicenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146089657066958317.post-16022903475167771622015-03-10T12:54:00.006-07:002015-03-10T12:57:15.675-07:00When Adventure Goes Wrong: Fastpacking in the CascadesGetting permits for a 200 mile trail running event that goes point to point is not an experience I'd wish on my worst enemy... however, there are many times when the planning and permitting process can be fun. Generally this means I have to go out and "check out the trails/roads/aid locations" to make sure they will fit the needs of the event That usually means planning a fastpacking trip, a multi day adventure in the mountains. This trip was really into the unknown, as I wouldn't be out there checking it out if I had all the information in the first place.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5A-58gcZu_E/VP9DdwwaKoI/AAAAAAAAICU/jzXHKTxaFRE/s1600/bigfoot%2B200%2Blogo%2Bcropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5A-58gcZu_E/VP9DdwwaKoI/AAAAAAAAICU/jzXHKTxaFRE/s1600/bigfoot%2B200%2Blogo%2Bcropped.jpg" height="312" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Which brings me to my latest fastacking trip. I only had about 70-100 miles to cover, about 35 of those miles were needed just so I could get back to my car. I had to decide whether I would do an out &amp; back or a big loop, almost half of which was unnecessary for mapping purposes but necessary for returning to my car. I decided on a loop as I really dislike out and backs. I'd rather see new terrain if possible, even when it wouldn't be part of the race course.</div><br />Meetings with the Forest Service went well, but that night my new-to-me Honda Element suddenly became impossible to shift into gear high on a mountain and I did all I could to get it back to town so I could have a mechanic look at it the next morning. That pushed my trip out a day. The mechanic was able to bleed air out of the system and - fingers crossed - I haven't had trouble since them!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2DD5OInPBA8/VP9EZoaw2rI/AAAAAAAAIC8/6a9LtGxah6E/s1600/honda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2DD5OInPBA8/VP9EZoaw2rI/AAAAAAAAIC8/6a9LtGxah6E/s1600/honda.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />I used the rest of the day to organize my gear in the city of Randle at a hometown cafe parking lot. Besides some strange looks, one weathered woman smoking a cig and havng trouble getting phone reception, asked what I was doing. After telling her about my "backpacking" trip (I called it backpacking to simplify my usual explanation) she asked, "Who are you going with?"<br /><br />"I'm going solo," I replied.<br /><br />She looked surprised and impressed and said, "You must be married!" I think she was trying to say that a girl who does these kinds of adventures would be desirable, although I'm not entirely sure what she meant.<br /><br />"No, I'm not," I said, "Actually that's probably why I'm not married!" Afterall, when you are travelling all the time and you enjoy doing trips solo, or in other words, are rather independent like myself, there's not huge motivation to make relationship kinds of commitments. I'd also have to find someone who could keep up with all my endeavors. I think there's enough material on this subject for it's own blog post, so I've leave it at that for now.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZHmjmfv0SQ/VP9EY7MonAI/AAAAAAAAIC0/UpegFo7TCOM/s1600/vfuel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KZHmjmfv0SQ/VP9EY7MonAI/AAAAAAAAIC0/UpegFo7TCOM/s1600/vfuel.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4TA2lLjQLKY/VP9EXA9zbgI/AAAAAAAAICc/W_LRIzB29GQ/s1600/altra.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4TA2lLjQLKY/VP9EXA9zbgI/AAAAAAAAICc/W_LRIzB29GQ/s1600/altra.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Y9hwPSsn4A/VP9EXbomA2I/AAAAAAAAICk/L8m3sYRClfQ/s1600/Altra%2Brocks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Y9hwPSsn4A/VP9EXbomA2I/AAAAAAAAICk/L8m3sYRClfQ/s1600/Altra%2Brocks.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://blog.altrazerodrop.com/elite-athletes/candice-burt/" target="_blank">Altra Shoes</a> (Lone Peak 2 pictured here) are great for hiking/fastpacking/ and running. I added <a href="http://www.icespike.com/" target="_blank">Icespikes</a> to them for traction. It's also a good idea to bring gels (I use <a href="http://vfuel.com/p/candice-burt.html" target="_blank">vfuel</a>), even if you are mostly going to eat solid foods as they can give you quick easy to digest energy when you need it fast. If you plan to race using gels, you will also want to use them in training, so I bring them along and use them for training and emergencies.</i></span><br /><br />The next morning before the sun rose with a layer of ice over all my car windows from sleeping inside it. I had taken out the back seats so that when I traveled I could sleep in it much like a van. I was up and making coffee with my jetboil and single pour cup as the sun slowly lit up the frosty mountain tops all around. A quick stop at the local gas station for ice for the food I'd be leaving in my cooler for several days and I was off driving my Element up Forest Service roads to the start of my adventure. I took Rd 2304 to find a trail I really hoped was there the 7 / 7A trail.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jJa-yUAjuk0/VP9EXfckhDI/AAAAAAAAICg/yVF5aNqzLpM/s1600/fastpacking%2Bfood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jJa-yUAjuk0/VP9EXfckhDI/AAAAAAAAICg/yVF5aNqzLpM/s1600/fastpacking%2Bfood.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the food I took with me in addition to VFuel Endurance Gels</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The 7/7A trail traverses mountain peaks North of Mt. Adams and goes South from Randle, WA almost all the way to the Goat Rocks Wilderness and Mt. Adams. It runs along a ridgeline with views of some of WA's &amp; OR's biggest mountains: Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and Glacier Peak. I was pretty excited to check it out but worried as my contact, Jack, at the Forest Service in Randle told me it has been unmaintained for several years and as a "hiking only" trail, it wouldn't be getting much use. He stressed that I might be climbing over downed trees the entire way or that the trail could be overgrown to the point of not being able to follow it or both!<br /><br />I barely got up Rd. 2304 when I had to park and begin my fastpacking. the road had been washed out by Owen's Creek in two spots and there was no way my low clearance Element was going to make it over. My pack felt very heavy and I hoped the climbs wouldn't be too intense with all that weight on my back. Rd 2304 became a trail quite quickly and had a good number of trees down, nothing too overwhelming but enough to make me take note so we could go in later and chop them off the trail.<br /><br />The Road (now a trail) became faint at times and then would open up and clearly be a trail, other times I was sure that it was about to peter out... As the trail began climbing toward Pompey Peak it was easier to follow, but still had trees I had to climb over, a lot more work when carrying 3 days of food and gear! At the base of Pompey Peak I took the trail to the peak and <i>WOW OH WOW</i>! What a view!! See photos:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JIU_FUQbEaI/VP9BidQ6QHI/AAAAAAAAIBQ/d6y17gmFOag/s1600/DSCN0961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JIU_FUQbEaI/VP9BidQ6QHI/AAAAAAAAIBQ/d6y17gmFOag/s1600/DSCN0961.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Eo4uG9JtAJc/VP9BibLZLVI/AAAAAAAAIBY/jdgXh45n0Wo/s1600/DSCN0982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Eo4uG9JtAJc/VP9BibLZLVI/AAAAAAAAIBY/jdgXh45n0Wo/s1600/DSCN0982.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgt48qSmEs4/VP9BiZUvDuI/AAAAAAAAIBU/oKbjVI9u3Tk/s1600/DSCN0985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgt48qSmEs4/VP9BiZUvDuI/AAAAAAAAIBU/oKbjVI9u3Tk/s1600/DSCN0985.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />It was at Pompey Peak where I began to hit snow. A lot of snow. In fact the farther South I went from Pompey Peak, the deeper the snow became and the harder it was to follow the trail. There was no trail, just 10-20 feet of snow that at times would get down to about 5 feet but I was left relying on my Garmin 64st GPS to follow where the path was.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9EsRs8Cw84/VP9KpSRmQzI/AAAAAAAAIDM/GWN6qxNypro/s1600/17789_10206596796784672_5618209974221303053_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P9EsRs8Cw84/VP9KpSRmQzI/AAAAAAAAIDM/GWN6qxNypro/s1600/17789_10206596796784672_5618209974221303053_n.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;My GPS is essential to my work. It helps me put on races, map my courses, and in some circumstances, follow a trail or find a trail when it's near impossible to find.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>The GPS kept me close to the trail but it was near impossible to find the actual trail and I weaved in and out of trees, up and down the hillside, watching my GPS constantly. 4 miles into this intense and overwhelmingly difficult snow traversing, I ended up on a cliff side under an unnamed peak. I'd fallen in numerous tree wells and this was pushing me past my comfort. Then, my GPS screen went blue. Nothing.<br /><br /><b>I go with the rule of 3.</b> Sometimes it's 4, but at some point on an adventure, when things keep going wrong, you have to say enough is enough and get to safety. I was at about 3, when I decided to call it a day. If you keep going when things go wrong, you can get so deep in trouble that there's no coming out without severe consequences. It's a lot better to be able to say, "I don't know what would have happened," then, "Something really bad happened."<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lSra735R2xg" width="560"></iframe> <br /><br />Without a GPS or a trail and a bad feeling about the whole thing and with night time quickly approaching, I had to make &nbsp;a hard decision. I decided to turn back. I had confirmed that the trail existed enough that I wouldn't leave totally empty handed, but it was still disappointing. I would have to wait for some of the snow to melt to get the entire GPS track, but that was a lot better than getting hurt, lost, or even die in the mountains with no one knowing where I was. Now, the challenge was to follow my tracks back to my car, and try to do it all in one day.<br /><br />It was a lot faster going back than it was on the way out. My tracks were still all there and although they were weaving around like a drunk (I'd been following the GPS which makes for a lot of side to side travel trying to stay on the track) I was able to cut out some of my unnecessary trekking knowing which direction I had come from.<br /><br />I got back to my car after 12 hrs and only 28 miles! The combination of a heavy pack, lots of snow and down trees slowed me down to just over 2 mph. The out and back had 6,500 feet of climbing, not too shabby for a ridgeline traverse!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PYkGcl3YvkY/VP9BmyKMBXI/AAAAAAAAIB4/_BCZ1mfVaxg/s1600/randle%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PYkGcl3YvkY/VP9BmyKMBXI/AAAAAAAAIB4/_BCZ1mfVaxg/s1600/randle%2B2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back safe in the car!&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="p1"><b>Fastpacking Packs</b></div><div class="p1"><b>I</b> highly recommend the <a href="http://www.ultimatedirection.com/?avad=161011_a83ce7d9&amp;utm_source=www.wilddefined.com&amp;utm_medium=affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=avantlink&amp;cid=aff_www.wilddefined.com" target="_blank">Ultimate Direction Fastpack 20 or 30</a>. I you have to carry lots of gear - tent/cold weather clothes/stove you might consider a pack with a frame and waist belt, however these two packs will help you travel light and fast and ride well enough to run even with a lot of gear. If you weigh yourself down with lots of gear, you will move much slower and these packs hkeep you tot the essentials.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UWsiNrgmnHQ/VP9LbnHuzII/AAAAAAAAIDU/pu7R24IhZYg/s1600/ud%2Bfastpack%2B20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UWsiNrgmnHQ/VP9LbnHuzII/AAAAAAAAIDU/pu7R24IhZYg/s1600/ud%2Bfastpack%2B20.jpg" height="320" width="243" /></a></div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1"><b><br /></b></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Want More?</b></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">For more daily fitness ideas, inspiration, and humor, check out my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Facebook Page</span></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Yoga based core and strength exercises on my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/bellinghamtrail"><span class="s2">YouTube Channel</span></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">A little crazy on&nbsp;<a href="http://instagram.com/runcandicerun"><span class="s2">Instagram</span></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Short, sweet and sassy on&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/runcandice"><span class="s2">Twitter</span></a></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Entertaining 5 million at a time on&nbsp;<span class="s2"><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CandiceBurt/posts">Google+</a></span></span></div><br />Candicenoreply@blogger.com3